When things aren’t right, I speak out
There’s nothing shameful about that, John Horgan writes.
I felt disappointed when I read the recent Vancouver Sun editorial portraying my heartfelt condolences to the grieving families of the Abbotsford Senior Secondary School attacks as inappropriate.
My comments came during a news conference about the safety of kids in seismically dangerous schools, and it included questions from reporters about mental health, drug addiction, public safety and preventing violence. Other news media attending reported my condolences, but The Sun chose to criticize me for also speaking out with passion about the need to do more to fix gaps in mental health care in our province.
My comments were criticized by this newspaper for coming too soon in the wake of the Abby Senior tragedy. I told reporters my condolences go out to the families in Abbotsford as a parent who had every confidence that when we sent our kids to school, they were going to be safe. I said no parent expects acts of violence in our schools, and that we are all horrified by this tragic attack.
My emotion about these issues is real. I was reacting to bad things happening to good people and real families.
As more people are getting to know me around B.C., I want them to know the real me, not the version of me portrayed by the Sun editorial. That’s not the real me.
I feel strongly motivated to speak out when things aren’t right. When something is wrong, I stand up to defend people. I know that annoys some — particularly people with power who defend the way things are. But I’m not going to just sit back and accept things as they are. I want to make change happen.
When I first saw the Sun editorial, I had just finished speaking to a large gathering of teachers in Richmond, where I talked about the shock and horror we’re all feeling after the brutal assault on these two girls in their school.
We all agreed the brave action of Abbotsford Senior staff stopped the violent rampage. Students and staff tried to save the life that was lost, and kept the second victim as safe as they could until help came.
Those actions speak to the character and quality of the people in that school who stepped into a horrifying situation and tried to help. I know that all across this province, there are teachers and staff who would do the same, and students who would be right there with them.
I’m disappointed that the Vancouver Sun editorial board failed to see how genuine my emotions and grief were at that news conference last week. And I am saddened that the Reimers and the family of the surviving student might be led by The Sun to believe I feel anything but the deepest grief for their trauma and loss.
My emotion about these issues is real. I was reacting to bad things happening to good people and real families.