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La loche, sask.
The Canadian Press

This article was published more than 6 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.

Cody Montgrand leaves a prayer candle at a makeshift memorial January 23, 2016 for the victims of the La Loche school shooting in La Loche, Saskatchewan.John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail

A remote northern Saskatchewan village where people were traumatized after a deadly school shooting is getting help to improve its future.

Premier Brad Wall is in La Loche where he announced new measures for education, health, housing and infrastructure.

The initiatives include adult basic education programs, a trades program in heavy equipment, automotive mechanics and construction of affordable rental housing.

A suicide prevention and community wellness worker will start later this month and a new program will be created to educate university students who will become teachers.

The support comes after two brothers were killed in a home and a teacher and a teacher's aide were shot at the high school in La Loche in January.

Seven others at the school were wounded.

A teenage boy, who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. The Crown wants him sentenced as an adult if he's convicted.

"Since the terrible events of last January the people of La Loche have inspired us with their resilience, unity and optimism," Wall said Tuesday.

"Our government promised to support the community as it recovers and today we continue to meet that commitment. Working with local leaders, local institutions and the federal government, we are investing in a range of programming that will foster hope and opportunity and enable more residents to lead independent, self-sufficient lives."

La Loche Mayor Kevin Janvier has said it is important to recognize the tragedy occurred after years of hardship.

The community needs better education, health, housing, and strategic infrastructure, he said.

Janvier said Tuesday that the community is pleased with the province's response to the tragedy.

"We look forward to continuing this relationship to ensure that the needs of our residents are being met. This is just the beginning."

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