RCMP treating death of Wilkie school staff member as suspicious

The people of Wilkie are mourning a beloved staff member of the town’s high school, whose death RCMP are investigating as suspicious.

Heidi Veit, an educational assistant at McLurg High School in Wilkie, “died suddenly and unexpectedly,” according to a letter sent Tuesday to parents on behalf of the Wilkie elementary school and high school and the Living Sky School Division.

The school “suffered a tragedy,” the letter read.

RCMP would not immediately identify Veit, but a school division spokeswoman confirmed that an investigation mentioned in RCMP news releases was about Veit’s death.

An RCMP in a news release issued late Tuesday afternoon said investigators “would like to speak to Wesley John Veit,” a resident of the RM of Buffalo, in connection with the case. RCMP said he “may have information related to the March 27 incident and was known to the victim.”

Anyone “who comes into contact with or knows the whereabouts of Wesley John Veit should not approach him” and should instead contact police, the release added.

Despite issuing the warning not to approach him, an RCMP spokeswoman declined a request for additional information, including Wesley John Veit’s age, whether he is considered a suspect, whether he is believed to be armed or dangerous, and the nature of the relationship between him and the deceased.

No charges were immediately laid in connection with the death of Heidi Veit.

The RCMP emergency response team, along with members of the major crimes unit and Unity detachment, spent much of Tuesday at the scene of what RCMP called a “suspicious sudden death” in the RM of Buffalo, about five kilometres northeast of Wilkie.

RCMP on Tuesday asked the media and members of the public to stay away from the area for “safety reasons.”

McLurg High School and Norman Carter Elementary School in Wilkie were put on hold-andsecure, meaning outside doors were locked and students were kept inside but classes continued as normal, according to Living Sky School Division spokeswoman Shannon Lessard.

Word of Veit’s death spread quickly in the community.

In a Facebook post, Marilyn Dewan said her “world was shaken today,” adding that Veit “loved everyone, showed compassion to all, had words of wisdom for everyone. You were a amazing mom, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.”

Shannon Sander, in another post on Facebook, described Veit as one of her children’s favourite teachers.

Megan Rose posted that her “heart aches today” and that she “will never forget everything you did for me. You were always there for me when I needed you.”

The school, in its letter to parents, said a crisis intervention team was put in place “to allow students an opportunity to talk about their thoughts and feelings” about the death. Counselling services will be in place for students and staff for the “foreseeable future,” the letter read.

Wilkie is located about 160 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.