A significant police presence was evident at a local high school and the surrounding area in Prince George, B.C., as the RCMP conducted a live emergency response training scenario. The training exercise, which took place at Duchess Park Secondary School, involved numerous uniformed and plainclothes officers, police vehicles, and armored vehicles. Actors were utilized to simulate an active threat situation to enhance the realism and intensity for participating police officers, according to Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, the media relations officer for Prince George RCMP.

Cooper mentioned that residents in the vicinity could anticipate loud noises, shouting, and commotion during the dynamic simulated scenario. The training session at the high school was part of the ongoing RCMP training regimen and was not a direct response to the mass shooting incident in Tumbler Ridge in February 2026.

The selection of the school for the exercise was deliberate as it was unoccupied by students during the summer, providing an ideal setting for running various scenarios. Insp. Chris Riddle, the Prince George RCMP operations officer, highlighted that the exercise involved collaboration among different units such as the North District Emergency Response Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, and General Investigative Section to expose officers to real-life scenarios, forcing them to make quick decisions under pressure.

Riddle emphasized that the training scenarios focused on situations where one individual poses a threat to others, aiming to equip officers with the skills to identify and neutralize threats effectively. Cooper shared her past experience participating in similar training as an actor with the Abbotsford Police Department, noting how it gave her a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by police officers on a daily basis.

Looking ahead, Riddle expressed the intention to organize more live-action training events for Prince George officers to enhance their skills continuously. He emphasized the benefits of such training, stating that officers find it rewarding to be involved in these realistic training situations.