Tumbler Ridge shooting survivor Maya Gebala has been named the recipient of the Youth Heroism Award from the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, recognizing her efforts to protect other students during the Feb. 10 shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
The 13-year-old was shot three times during the attack. According to accounts shared by her family, she attempted to secure the school library door to help protect other students.
Maya was recently released from BC Children’s Hospital last week after 262 days of hospitalization, multiple surgeries and a lengthy recovery.
Daniel Chapin, founder and president of the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, said Maya’s actions during the shooting were central to the decision to recognize her.
“Heroism should not be measured by someone’s age, physical strength, or whether they escaped an incident without injury,” Chapin said.
“It should be measured by what someone does when confronted with circumstances no young person should ever have to experience.”
He said Maya’s efforts to help protect others reflect the courage, concern for others and selflessness the award was created to recognize.
Chapin said Maya is the foundation’s first international recipient of the Youth Heroism Award, marking a milestone for an initiative intended to recognize young people regardless of where they live.
The foundation began following the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and says its work includes recognizing courage and compassion shown by young people in difficult circumstances.
The foundation also recognized Tricia Asselin, who was killed in the October 2023 shooting in Lewiston, Maine. Asselin was working at Just-In-Time Recreation when she was shot and killed while attempting to call 911. The foundation later presented posthumous heroism awards to Asselin and four other victims of the shooting.
Chapin said the two recognitions reflect the foundation’s belief that courage deserves to be acknowledged while respecting the lives and communities changed by violence.
The foundation’s commitment to Tumbler Ridge also includes its Trees for Peace initiative, which features the names of the young people killed in the shooting as part of its international youth violence memorial.
The memorial includes Abel Mwansa, Ezekiel Schofield, Kylie Smith, Zoey Benoit and Ticaria Lampert, who died at the school, as well as Emmett Jacobs, who was killed at a connected residence.
“Maya’s award and the memorialization of those lost are distinct parts of our commitment to Tumbler Ridge,” Chapin said.
“One recognizes the courage of a young survivor; the other preserves the memory of those who did not come home. Both matter, and neither should be treated as a substitute for the other.”
Chapin said the foundation recognizes the impact the tragedy has had on students, families, educators and residents, and does not presume to speak for the community or define its recovery.
He also emphasized that Maya and her family have asked for privacy, and said the foundation will respect their wishes when approaching any recognition or presentation.
“This award is not about placing expectations on Maya or asking her to continually revisit what happened,” Chapin said.
“It is about acknowledging an act of courage and recognizing a young person whose actions reflected concern for others at a time of extraordinary danger.”
The foundation extended its congratulations to Maya and best wishes to her and her family, saying it hopes she can move forward at her own pace, surrounded by support and care.
The Trees for Peace memorial can be viewed on the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation website.
With files from Celestia Nlemvo MyPeaceRegionNow.com
