Threat Response: Fair Notice
Violence and threats of violence are taken very seriously in the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District. As such, the district provides parents/guardians with a Fair Notice about its Threat Risk Assessment policies and protocols.
As a part of this Fair Notice: Student Safety, we advise that:
- Staff, parents/guardians, students and community members must report all threat-related behaviours;
- All threats must be taken seriously, investigated and responded to;
- All threats are investigated by the school’s multi-disciplinary Threat Assessment Team, which may include the principal, vice-principal, school counsellor, a member of the Safe and Caring School team, and police;
- The threat assessment process may include interviews with students, the threat maker, parents/guardians and staff to determine the level of risk and to develop an appropriate response;
- The threat assessment process will continue even if the threat maker or parent/guardian refuses to participate;
- Interventions plans are developed and shared with parents/guardians, staff and students as required.
Firearm Violence Prevention Act: Fair Notice
Starting October 1, 2026, new laws and regulations under the Firearm Violence Prevention Act (FVPA) are coming into effect in B.C. The legislation is intended to address unsafe firearm use and firearm-related violence.
The FVPA complements and further strengthens existing legislation and school and district policies banning firearms on school property by providing law enforcement with additional tools to address and enforce firearm-related public safety risks. The FVPA does this by establishing a clear and consistent province-wide prohibition on firearms, low-velocity firearms (such as BB, pellet, gel, airsoft and paintball guns) and imitation firearms (such as lighters designed to closely resemble firearms) on all K-12 school properties. The goal of these new laws is to promote greater public safety by keeping firearms and objects that look like firearms out of schools.
Some schools regularly support and authorize a wide range of educational, community and special events on school property, including activities that occur outside regular school hours, on evenings, and on weekends. The legislation includes narrow exemptions for certain safe and legitimate activities using firearms, low-velocity or imitation firearms. Examples of activities that may be eligible for an exemption include:
- Cadet programs
- Biathlon demonstrations or events
- Cinematic, theatrical, film, or artistic activities or performances
- Educational activities (e.g., firearms safety training)
In addition, individuals who are safely transporting firearms, low-velocity firearms, or imitation firearms in a vehicle are exempted as long as applicable requirements in the regulations and all other relevant firearms laws are followed (e.g., firearms remain unloaded and safely stored in a locked trunk or container). Anyone who illegally possesses a firearm, low-velocity firearm, or imitation firearm on school property without a valid exemption may have these items confiscated, forfeited and disposed of by law enforcement, and if convicted of an offence, may face fines and serious penalties under the FVPA.
For information on existing policies in the school or district that ban firearms, please refer to the district Policy and Procedure Manual. For more information on the Firearm Violence Prevention Act and regulations, visit: Firearm Violence Prevention Act (FVPA) – Province of British Columbia.