When shots rang out in Tumbler Ridge there was one reporter in town. He was used to covering local events like town council meetings, local hockey, or even, once, a mother duck leading her chicks through town. Then on February 10 came one of the worst shootings in Canadian history.

For the first five hours after the attack local reporter Trent Ernst was the sole journalist in the town. Then the international media descended and for a few days everyone from CBC to the BBC to CNN wanted to talk to Ernst. A few days later the new cycle shifted and the world’s media withdrew. Ernst stayed. He kept reporting, kept talking to his community. And today he talks to Canadaland about what happened before, during, and after Tumbler Ridge moved into the world’s headlines.

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Featured Guest: Trent Ernst

Fact checking by Julian Abraham

Additional music by Audio Network

Photo: Trent Ernst

More information:

• https://tumblerridgelines.com/
• https://www.patreon.com/tumblerridgelines

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On the next episode of Off The Record, we’re asking you: What’s a rabbit hole you dove into or just know a lot about, because of something you saw in the news or online? Was it a conspiracy? Wellness? Crypto? Culture war issues? What pulled you in? And are you still down there???

Call in and let us know on this Thursday, Feb 26th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm EST, by going to https://callinstudio.com/show/canadaland or dialing in at 1-888-401-7056 when the time comes, so mark your calendars!

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