BONNYVILLE - An incident at Bonnyville Centralized High School involving a person who was reported to be intoxicated on Jan. 12 required intervention by RCMP but did not involve any threats being made.
"Right around the time that students were arriving for the day, a trespasser entered the school through the hallway that connects the school to the C2," reads a letter signed by Principal Mark Centazzo. "As soon as it was identified that there was an unauthorized person in the school, school administration and C2 staff worked together to escort the trespasser from the school."
Once the person was removed from the school, the individual then spoke to several students in the parking lot, and at one point was reportedly seen holding a pocket knife.
"At no time was the individual in physical contact with the students, nor did (the person) threaten to harm students," said Centazzo.
RCMP were contacted to help deal with the situation.
Bonnyville RCMP Sgt. Kimberly Hillier confirmed that police were called to the C2 Centre with reports of a female wandering around with a visible knife.
"Members attended quickly and located the female, police seized the knife and found the female to be very intoxicated," said Hillier. "She was arrested and returned to the detachment."
There were no threats, no attempts to use the knife, and the incident involved nothing other then the female wandering and asking for a ride, according to RCMP.
The individual was reported to be a 23-year-old female from Cold Lake who was found to be the subject of current conditions and was charged for failing to abide by those conditions. The information is not yet sworn, so RCMP could not release a name.
"This was an unexpected and disturbing incident and has created anxiety and concern for many students and staff at the school," said Centazzo.
Students were given the opportunity to meet with a school counsellor if needed, and the principal encouraged parents to follow up with their children at home.
"If you think your child may need someone to talk to or access to other mental health resources, please contact the school and we will make the appropriate arrangements," said Centazzo. BCHS administration will be reviewing its safety protocols as well as working with the C2 to determine what steps need to be taken to prevent this type of incident from occurring in the future.
