School mourns 13-year-old boy
Youth had just moved to town with family; Mildred Hall offers counselling to students
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Staff and students at Mildred Hall School as well as family and friends are in mourning after the sudden and tragic death of a 13-year-old student in Grade 8.
Officials with Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (Yk1) confirmed the boy, who had just moved to Yellowknife less than a month ago with family from Nunavut, died on Friday. Yellowknifer was at a Sissons Court apartment Friday morning when the youth was wheeled out of the building on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to Stanton Territorial Hospital.
RCMP Sgt. Donald Duplissea said police could not discuss the circumstances surrounding the boy's death for privacy reasons and out of respect for the family.
"I believe he may have had a pre-existing medical condition," said Anita Griffore, supervisor of student support services for Yk1.
"He had made a nice transition into school and was well-liked by his teachers and the students."
She could not say what Nunuvut community the family had relocated from.
What Mildred Hall staff did on Friday was call the parents of the students who were in the boy's classes to let them know so they could talk to their children, Griffore said. It was decided not to make a general announcement to students given the short period of time the family has been in the school, she added. The boy had two younger siblings attending the school, Griffore said. All students were off on Friday as teachers attended a professional development day.
Last weekend, Mildred Hall staff supported the boy's family by visiting. Taking the younger children on outings, connecting them with supports and providing food, Griffore said.
Monday morning, students in the boy's class met in small groups for sharing circles and support and extra counsellors were made available, she added. Students who knew the boy are working with a school counsellor to plan a private memorial.
Flags at the school remained at half-mast yesterday morning.
Cathy Menard, chief coroner for the NWT, said the death is not considered suspicious but added a cause of death has yet to be determined.
"The coroner's office is investigating the death," she said.
The body has been sent to Edmonton for a post mortem. Menard confirmed the boy had a pre-existing medical condition but she could not say whether it was a factor in his death.
