La Loche, Sask., mayor thanks government for support after shooting

Nearly six months after a tragic school shooting in La Loche, Sask., the northernvillage's mayor penned an open letter thanking the government of Saskatchewan for its continued support in helping his community bounce back from tragedy.

• La Loche shooting victims: fourlives cut short

On Jan. 22, a 17-year-old boy allegedly opened fire, killing two brothers at their home in La Loche, Sask., about 605 kilometres north of Saskatoon. Police say the teen then opened fire at La LocheCommunitySchool, killing a teacher and a teaching assistant, andwounding seven others.

On Wednesday, the premier's office confirmed to CBC Saskatchewan that seven people injured in the attackhave now been released from hospital. In February,three of the victims werestill recovering at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named under the Youth CriminalJustice Act, is charged with first-degree murder and attemptedmurder.The Crown has stated it wants the accused teen sentenced as an adult if he isconvicted.

In his letter, La Loche mayor Kevin Janvier said there's a visible improvement in the people of hiscommunity, because there are now consistent and dedicated mental health counselors in La Loche.

"We have seen a great improvement in terms of children not having to retell their story to a new person each week," Janvier said. "Files have been created and information flowbetween those using mental health supports and those providing the services has improved."

Janvier added he feels things are moving well, and if his community and the provincial government continueto work together, long-term positive solutions will emerge.

The mayor also thanked his area's Member of Parliament, Georgina Jolibois, for her recent comments in the mediawhere she noted federal and provincial governments had not done enough in the wake ofJanuary's shootings to help her community cope and heal.

• MP for La Loche, Sask. says community needs more help for mental health after shooting

Last week Jolibois said virtually no additional resources have been brought to the northern community since the Jan. 22 shootings.

But on Wednesday, the provincial government released details of the additional resources delivered to La Loche. Those includemore counseling services, and heightened security at both of the community's schools, along withits hospitaland clinic.

According to a government spokesperson, immediately following the shootings, staff from several different ministries traveled to the northern Saskatchewan village of roughly 3,000 peopleto assist with its health and safety needs.

Since the shootings, 300 people have received counseling services including victims, witnesses, other traumatized community residents and school staff. Saskatchewan's Victims' Compensation Program has provided money for 86 people to date, with another 90 applications under review.

Victims' Compensation provides payments to victims to reimburse reasonable expenses resulting from criminal acts of personal violence.

In February, the maximum compensation payable for counseling was increased from $2,000 to $5,000 to provide victims of violence with additional resources to support recovery from trauma. This change occurred, in part, in response to the shootings in La Loche.

Security ramped up at both schools

Since the tragedy, the northern village has implemented emergency lock-down protocols for both schools in La Loche as well as upgrades to security systems in the schools. Security officers are now stationed in both schools during operation and are on-site during any after-school or weekend activities.

The school division has also hired additional counselorsto work until the end of June, and it's secured a counsellor to cover the summer months at La Loche'sFriendship Centre.

The government said it's currently working with the Northern Lights School Division to developa plan for next year. They're considering adding teaching staff, morecounseling supports, and strengtheningAdult Basic Education and trades education.

. However, the province says La Loche's request to runDene teacher training "will require substantial discussion and planning".

Health ministry boosts mental health resources

The Ministry of Health said two mental health counselors and two addictions workers are currently stationed in La Loche. Earlier this month, one more community mental health nurse began providing counseling through the Friendship Centre, as well on-call services around the clock.

Two visiting psychiatrists currently provide monthly services to the community, with the province's Northern Medical Services branch covering "telehealth" consultations between trips.

The government said the regional health authority is committed to hiring a suicide prevention and community wellness worker to provide services through the Friendship Centre. It's also paying for a new X-ray machine at the hospital.

La Loche has one full-time victims services coordinator position, paid for by the ministry of Justice. In March, funding was announced for a second full-time position.

Investments in infrastructure

The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure said it's planning over $1 million in improvements along Highway 155, which connects La Loche to Buffalo Narrows. Officials proposed extending the Alberta side of a winter road from La LochetoFort McMurrayHowever, officials in Alberta saidthat'snot currently on their three-year road construction plan.

The government said SaskTel will complete network expansion plans in the La Loche area by the end of 2016, which would include putting Wi-Fi connectivity at La Loche's hospital.