We are deeply saddened by a tragedy that has impacted the John Diefenbaker Senior School community. It has been confirmed that three students from the school died yesterday (Tuesday, November 11) in a motor vehicle collision. A fourth student in the collision was transported to hospital.

On behalf of Bluewater District School Board, we are sending our heartfelt condolences and thoughts to the families directly impacted. At this time, our priority is to support them and respect their privacy as they endure unimaginable grief and loss.

The impact of this tragedy is far reaching and extends to other school communities in Bluewater. For many of our students, staff, and families, we recognize that the shock and sadness they are experiencing may be compounded by recent tragedies that have occurred in some of our other schools. Much like those situations, we know that these students had many close connections and will be sadly missed by large networks of peers and staff.

Our board’s mental health staff and Tragedy Response Team are on-site at John Diefenbaker Senior School, to provide grief counselling and other forms of support and resources to students and staff in the days and weeks ahead. We are here for them and each other as we walk a difficult road ahead. Though if there is one thing we have learned, it is that our Bluewater communities step up in incredible ways to support one another during hard times.

We grieve with the families, students and staff of JDSS, and others across our district who have been impacted by this tragedy.


Jane Thomson
Chair

AJ Keene
Director of Education