In recognition of the ongoing impacts of the Tumbler Ridge tragedy

The devastating impacts of the Tumbler Ridge tragedy continue to be felt across our membership and throughout the province. HSA mourns alongside the families affected and the entire Tumbler Ridge community. 

While HSA immediately reached out to members working in Tumbler Ridge to offer support, we recognize that impacts have been felt far more widely across our membership. We heard from members that broader communication should have come sooner, and we apologize that it did not. We are taking these learnings forward to strengthen our response and communication during times of tragedy.

We want to take a moment to recognize the extraordinary work of HSA professionals on the front lines, providing critical response and compassionate care to victims and survivors. Across the province, many members continue to support patients and families through a range of efforts — including hospital care, deployed mental health teams, remote support, and community-based care and solidarity. This collective response is a powerful testament to the dedication and compassion of our members. We are proud of the difficult and essential work you do. 

We also want to express our deep concern with the backlash and hate targeting Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people. This is unacceptable, and we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the safety and dignity of these communities.

Contributions to community support efforts

Following motions carried by your Board of Directors and Convention delegates, HSA has contributed $15,000 in donations to organizations providing critical support and services on the ground:

• $5,000 to the Northeast BC Community Foundation, which established the Tumbler Ridge Community Resilience Fund to help support the community through this challenging time.
• $5,000 to the Northern BC Queer Connection Society, which works to connect queer and trans communities and build capacity across Northern BC through resource sharing, social connections, and identifying gaps in services.
• $5,000 to the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Grad Executive, to help cover the costs of their graduation celebration on June 20, 2026.

We are grateful to these organizations and groups for the vital work they are doing under extremely challenging circumstances. HSA will continue to look for ways to offer support where we can.

• If you experience(d) a physical and/or psychological injury arising out of the events of February 10, 2026, please seek medical attention and access your extended health benefits as necessary. Your employer will have information about additional supports and services that are available to you, such as employee assistance plans or community resources. In addition, WorkSafe BC has a support line for injured workers who are experiencing emotional crisis. The support line is available to all injured workers, whether or not they have a claim with WorkSafe BC, and can be reached at 1-800-624-2928 at any time.
   
• Any physical or mental injury which was caused by your work activities relating to February 10, 2026 are eligible for compensation through WorkSafe BC. A claim can be filed online or over the phone. Information about the claims process is available on WorkSafeBC’s website. If your claim for compensation is denied, please e-mail a copy of the denial letter to @email with a request for assistance to appeal the decision.
   
• We are also supporting members who may be involved in any occupational health and safety investigations and to assist with any health and safety concerns arising from this incident. If you want to report any concerns or incidents to your employer, you can contact your supervisor/manager in person or by email, or contact the Provincial Workplace Health Call Centre at 1-866-922-9464. All reports will be documented and investigated. If you need further support or information about issues relating to occupational health and safety concerns or investigations arising out of the events of February 10, 2026, please e-mail your questions or concerns to @email and one of our OHS LROs will respond.
   
• Additionally, we offer a reminder that as part of HSA’s ongoing work to provide greater support for members, mental health support funds are available to HSPBA and NBA members as supplementary benefits. These funds essentially raise the limit on benefits to allow more time with psychologists, clinical counsellors, online cognitive behavioral therapy and social workers, and add coverage for dietitians for the duration of the fund. Additional information about these supplemental funds can be found here:
  • NBA: Health and Welfare Benefits
  • HSPBA: Health and Welfare Benefits