Guard called in after photos, video taken at school
École Whitehorse Elementary School has brought in a security guard to patrol school property.
École Whitehorse Elementary School has brought in a security guard to patrol school property.
The measure was taken after an individual was seen taking photos and videos while students and staff have been present.
On Wednesday, during school hours, Whitehorse Elementary’s vice-principal noticed an individual taking pictures.
He went up and spoke with the person.
The vice-principal subsequently reported the incident to the RCMP, Mike Woods, the territory’s assistant deputy minister of schools, told the Star this morning.
While a motive has not been determined, Woods said the RCMP also confirmed the man had been seen after school hours, filming the outside of the Fourth Avenue building.
He may have come on to school property at that time.
“We don’t know whether the individual’s interested in the school, or children,” Woods said.
The Department of Education is working with the school and the RCMP to ensure the safety of staff and students.
“We take these matters very seriously,” Woods said. “Everyone’s being vigilant.”
A security guard has been posted on school grounds from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
Woods said the department has alerted other schools in Whitehorse and rural Yukon in case the individual travels elsewhere.
Unusual situation
This is an unusual situation for schools in the territory, according to Woods.
Therefore, the department is always extremely attentive to any reports of someone photographing or recording schools or children or even hanging around school grounds.
Jason Mackey, a Department of Education spokesperson, said at this time, the department is not providing details about the individual’s gender nor appearance to the public.
Jeff Wolosewich is chair of the Whitehorse Elementary School Council.
In an interview this morning, he said he’s satisfied with the response taken by school administration and by assurances from the RCMP that they “don’t feel there’s an imminent threat.”
He said he saw the security guard at Whitehorse Elementary when he picked up his kids from school Thursday.
“I don’t think people need to be worried or be upset. They’re dealing with it,” he said.
Wolosewich confirmed that he hasn’t been contacted by any parents since the school put out a notice about the individual Thursday.
“I mean it’s weird, it’s high on the creep factor level, for sure....”
However, he said, “I was honestly more focused on getting the glue gun out, getting Halloween costumes ready than I was worried about my kids at the school.
“I feel like they’re in pretty good hands there.
Whitehorse RCMP said early this afternoon police will release more information soon, but that details will be limited to the person’s age and gender.
Comments (13)
Up 1 Down 0
warning of what could happen on Nov 2, 2017 at 3:32 pm
This incident is a good warning of what could happen. I've gone to Whitehorse Elementary to see my kids, in the morning, and found a youth hanging out in the lobby, getting warm. He was 14 or 15, clearly not elementary age. He also had a violent background and was not attending school. Whitehorse Elementary needs to step up its security-it is in a very open location and as a result, it may need to keep security measures and cameras on at all times and be diligent about watching the cameras. Anybody can walk in and be there--scary when it can be a unknown person with mental issues, who may or may not intend harm.
Up 10 Down 11
Josey Wales on Oct 31, 2017 at 4:40 am
Gee....I have seen heaps of nefarious activity over the decades at that address. Mind often with the crews I see getting wasted, having a piss, fighting...the clear syndrome of lower expectations that enables this sty plays a role.
Now that between the staff at the school AND the Mounties are presenting the optics of concern for public safety, I HIGHLY encourage all that are actually concerned about what is left of our community to bombard M with phone calls.
Send emails to our civic overlords, they seem to have stop giving much concern about it...public safety.
Then you, just as I, can form your own opinions as to why the sty decomposes further.
How are the dozen unsolved homicides proceeding M?
Up 18 Down 7
Groucho d'North on Oct 30, 2017 at 9:15 am
"On Wednesday, during school hours, Whitehorse Elementary’s vice-principal noticed an individual taking pictures.
He went up and spoke with the person..."
So what was the resulting conversation? So many holes in the reporting of this story.
Up 18 Down 2
He needs help on Oct 30, 2017 at 8:41 am
Please take some time to watch just a few of the videos on this man's YouTube channel. Sheer paranoia, fantasy and major disrespect for authority.
Up 27 Down 2
loon on Oct 30, 2017 at 8:13 am
His one youtube video is him walking around in Vancouver. He says 98% of the people living in Vancouver are clones. He video tapes an air vent and says it's an escape hatch for people underground, and it's locked up so they can't get out. He talks of evil lurking everywhere and that nobody is a real person. He does not seem violent, but if he really believes these things is it a big step to think he is eliminating an evil clone by attacking a kid?
This post is for the morons calling people snowflakes who need bubble wrap and all the other unoriginal insults.
There's legitimate concern here.
Up 20 Down 2
anonymous on Oct 29, 2017 at 10:31 pm
I read his Facebook and watched his you tube videos. Episode 63...if I was that teacher I would have acted the same way (I assume it was why he was arrested). I'm glad to see he has left town. He was posting from Vancouver today on Facebook. In a way it is sad though. He is very mentally ill.
Up 21 Down 1
Just Say'in on Oct 29, 2017 at 8:19 pm
WOW I spent hours watching this guys video's He needs some serious help. Gov. of the Yukon must have put him on the plane to Vancouver yesterday because according to his new series of videos he flew down and just bought a new cell phone. here is his new link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kCz5ARwHv4&t=1
He needs help not just a new location.
Up 29 Down 6
Mother of 2 on Oct 29, 2017 at 7:18 pm
I had 2 daughters attending Whitehorse Elementary from 2009-2017.
Great school, amazing program and dedicated teachers in the worst possible location.
Everyday my daughters told me stories of drunks, fights, blood, puke, screaming, inappropriate PDA .... on and on. Absolutely disgusting.
Downtown Whitehorse is not only vile and dangerous but absolutely embarrassing.
Up 24 Down 1
yukoner on Oct 29, 2017 at 11:01 am
Everyone should watch this individual's YouTube channel before commenting or forming an opinion. In particular, watch the video titled "Yukon ep. 63", and then decide whether this individual should be allowed near our children.
Up 22 Down 20
Guncache on Oct 28, 2017 at 10:20 am
Let's wrap everybody up in bubble wrap and plaster ourselves with fragile stickers
Up 26 Down 19
Max Mack on Oct 27, 2017 at 4:20 pm
There are many reasons why an individual would take pictures of schools or students. It is beyond ridiculous to automatically assume that a picture-taker or videographer has some nefarious purpose.
Up 39 Down 7
Clean up the area on Oct 27, 2017 at 4:07 pm
My kid went through EWES and one of the biggest downsides was all the stuff that goes on surrounding the school everyday. We had some interesting conversations with them trying to explain what was happening with those individuals.
A steady stream of ambulances carting people out of the Sally Ann. Drunks stumbling between the Sally Ann and liquor store. Public drinking. Fights. Drug activity behind Super Value. More than once the kids would be getting of the bus in the morning and people are passed out on the school grounds and in the afternoon people smoking weed on the front lawn.
There is absolutely ZERO enforcement by the RCMP in that area.
Up 10 Down 0
Captain Obvious on Oct 27, 2017 at 3:49 pm
The guy's YouTube channel is public:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt2uztw9msWaZNfBKGmQk1g