Toronto teen’s death on school trip taking toll on students, staff: principal

Perry and about 37 other students were taking part in a summer school outdoor educational program trip that began Sunday and was scheduled to end Friday, said Ryan Bird, a spokesman for the Toronto District School Board. The trip was cut short as soon as Perry’s body was found.

The Ministry of Natural Resources sent a float plane to evacuate students from the park but the plane had an unspecified mechanical issue and was disabled before all could be brought back, police said.

Shari Schwartz-Maltz, a spokeswoman for the board, said most of the students were evacuated but 13 students were left behind and had to canoe back to a meeting point when it became too dark to shuttle people by air. The last group of students was expected to return to Toronto on Thursday night, she said.

The school’s principal said some students who stayed behind did so to support those who couldn’t be evacuated.

Gala would not discuss the circumstances surrounding Perry’s death, including whether students were told to wear life-jackets, saying the incident is under police investigation.

Perry’s father, Joshua Anderson, has said he expected the school to ensure students were safe.

“That was the least on our minds thinking about the safety because we know the school is supposed to have proper supervision, proper protocol, everything in place,” he told a Toronto TV station Wednesday.

Shari Schwartz-Maltz, a spokeswoman for the board, said that there would have been three lifeguards watching the students and that all those on the trip were required to pass a swimming test.

Salmaan Farooqui , The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Toronto teen’s death on school trip taking toll on students, staff: principal

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