Flags were at half-mast and two Prince George schools were in mourning Friday over the loss of Jonathan and Emily Altizer.
They were joined by a group of teens gathered around the family home on Westwood Avenue Friday night to set up a candlelight tribute. The two young students were killed along with their parents and aunt Thursday morning in a highway accident near McLeese Lake.
At Prince George secondary school, where the 14-year-old Jonathan attended Grade 9 classes, students crowded around his locker to post their tributes, while school staff and grief counsellors from School District 57 made themselves available to help them cope with their loss.
"We heard how he died and everybody's pretty sad in there," said PGSS Grade 10 student Brittni Schechinger.
"I counted about 100 people around his locker and they were writing things - his locker and two lockers on either side are covered with pictures and notes," added PGSS Grade 12 student Shane Lee.
PGSS cancelled an afternoon basketball game as well as improvisation night event planned for Friday. Devin Trenholm, another Grade 12 PGSS student, was impressed with how the school was handling the tragedy.
"There are counsellors everywhere helping out the kids and that's good to see," said
Trenholm.
A critical events response team was also in place Friday at Westwood elementary school, where 12-year-old Emily was a Grade 7 student.
"This is a family and community tragedy and right now our thoughts are with the family," said district superintendent
Brian Pepper.
"These two students were well-liked and had a large circle of friends and we're in the business of providing support to those friends and to ensure safety for those kids, should they desire to seek family support upon knowing about the situation."
