Georgina Jolibois, MP for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, which includes La Loche, is also the former mayor of the community. She issued a statement Friday.
“I am shocked and saddened by the shooting in the Dene Building at the La Loche Community School in my riding,” she said. “The shooting hits close to home for me as my family members attend the school.”
Thomas McDermott, who now lives in Denare Beach, was an EMS attendant in the La Loche area from 2009 to 2012.
After the shootings, he called colleagues in the area. “I offered support right away,” McDermott told The Reminder.
During his three years in the community, he responded to difficult calls including assaults, suicides, accidents and crime scenes.
“It was one of the most challenging jobs to be around and to face every day, not knowing what you’re going to see, what’s going to happen,” he said.
McDermott will be heading to La Loche later in the week, hoping to be there in time for any services that will be held.
“I have many good friends there and I’m happy to see them,” he said
McDermott said the community of La Loche is a beautiful community.
“It’s a strong community, a strong Dené community, and they will get through this with the help of others around the country and around Saskatchewan,” he said. “I will be there, everybody will be there for them. They know that people are there for them. People have been going there and supporting them. I will go there and share that grief with them, and go and console them too with my friends.
Jolibois echoed that thought in her statement.
“The community of La Loche is strong and closely knit. We have faced adversity in the past and we will persevere.”
