Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Tumbler Ridge, B.C., to attend a vigil commemorating the victims of Tuesday’s shooting.

The small community is still reeling from the shooting that left nine dead and more than 25 injured in one of the worst mass killings in Canadian history.

Carney was invited to attend Friday’s vigil by Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said — and other party leaders are invited as well.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will be accompanying the prime minister. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said earlier Thursday that he would also be attending.

The House of Commons put its usual proceedings on pause on Wednesday.

Following a moment of silence, party leaders made somber statements in the House chamber during the time that is typically reserved for question period. Instead of the usual heckles and cheers from each side of the aisle, the nearly full chamber was largely silent as leaders paid tribute to the victims and first responders.

Carney said the violence has “left our nation in shock” and his thoughts are with the parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters of those who were taken in a series of horrific events Tuesday in the small mining town in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

“To those families who have lost loved ones: we mourn with you. To those recovering from their injuries: we are praying for you,” Carney said.

Following Carney’s statement, Poilievre called the shooting “appalling.”

“As a father, I can’t even imagine the phone calls the parents might have received. I can’t imagine the heartache and the hell they’re living through at this moment,” he said.

“I encourage all Canadians to pray for the community and pray for the family.”

Blanchet, NDP interim Leader Don Davies and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May also rose to make statements.

May was particularly emotional, her voice breaking multiple times.

“It is hard for any one of us as parents to imagine what the community of Tumbler Ridge is going through,” she said. “There are no words.”

A number of Liberal MPs, including Jessica Fancy, who sits beside May and was in tears throughout her tribute, rose to hug the Green Party leader after her statement.

Tragedy still fresh as House resumes regular proceedings

The House adjourned for the day after all party leaders had spoken. Regular House business resumed on Thursday, but the tragedy was still clearly weighing on MPs’ minds.

Typically the Opposition will ask the government for an update to start the first question period following a tragedy like Tuesday’s shooting.

Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer led off Thursday’s question period by extending condolences to the families of Tumbler Ridge and asked what support the government is providing the community.

Government House leader Steven MacKinnon responded by saying that “we want to assure [the community of Tumbler Ridge] that they’re not alone.” He noted that a number of federal representatives are co-ordinating with provincial and municipal officials to offer support to the community.

Half a dozen MPs spoke in the House prior to question period on Thursday to offer their condolences.

Conservative MP Todd Doherty, whose riding neighbours the district containing Tumbler Ridge, said many of his constituents have relatives and friends who live in the community.

“The sorrow that we feel is almost too heavy to bear. On behalf of the families in my riding … many of whom, like mine, have family and friends in Tumbler Ridge, I extend our deepest condolences,” he said.

“To my colleagues, hold your loved ones a little tighter today and never miss an opportunity to tell them you love them.”