Three WRDSB schools go into lockdown
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
By Lee Griffi
There was an increased police presence at three Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) schools on the morning of Tuesday, June 16, after reports of a threat to safety circulated.
In Wilmot Township, Baden Public School was affected, as were Alpine Public School in Kitchener and Ayr Public School in North Dumfries.
A Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) press release said all three incidents are being considered swatting, which is a form of criminal harassment in which someone makes a false emergency report to police. They typically claim serious crimes including a hostage situation, an active shooter, a murder or stabbing, bomb threat, or someone threatening suicide while armed.
The goal is to trigger a large, heavily armed police response, often a SWAT team or tactical unit, hence the term swatting.
“On June 16, 2026, between 9 a.m. and 9:10 a.m., three schools in Kitchener, Wilmot and North Dumfries received a telephone call from an unidentified individual. During each call, the caller stated they were enroute to the school with weapons and issued threats to harm staff and students,” said the release.
It added all three schools were placed under lockdown to protect the safety of staff and students. Officers attended and cleared each school.
“The calls are being treated as a swatting incident, a false report made to trigger an emergency police response. The investigation remains ongoing by WRPS’ general investigations unit,” the release added.
Police are asking anyone with information to call WRPS at 5195709777 ext. 4496. Anonymous information can be provided to Crime Stoppers at 18002228477 or online at www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.
The hold and secures were enough to make parents fearful for their children’s safety, including Joanna Guistini-Wilkins, who has two young daughters at Baden Public School.
“When we send our kids off to school every morning, this is the last thing we expect to happen. Their health and safety are everything to us. I have never felt so helpless in my life,” she said. “All I wanted to do was run to that school and wrap my arms around my girls. I know I’m not the only parent to feel that way.”
She added once school was over, she went to pick her kids up and received an emotional response.
“When I went to the school to pick them up, my oldest daughter and her friends ran out to me and they all just hugged me. The relief we all felt in that moment could not be measured. My daughter said they were told everything that was happening and had to stay in place until they knew it was safe. She told me about the police officers that were there to protect them and that made her feel better.”
Guistini-Wilkinson’s youngest daughter was not at the school as she was participating in a field trip.
“We were advised as parents to stay away so the police could keep the school shut. It was the hardest thing to do,” she added.
An announcement from each school went out to parents at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, notifying them of the lockdown and police investigation. The lockdown was lifted at 10:40 a.m.
“As part of our hold-and-secure protocols, students and staff remained inside. (They) were safe inside the school at all times. Our school remained in lock and hold until we were assured by Waterloo Regional Police Services that it was safe to return to our regular school routines,” said principal Jeff Brown.
“We will always take whatever precaution is necessary to ensure the safety students and staff. We want to thank our partners at WRPS for helping to keep our schools safe places to learn. We will provide updates as they become available. We ask that parents, families and caregivers please refrain from calling or coming to the school during a hold and secure as our staff’s main priority is to keep students safe.”
The school board is also making the board’s child and youth workers available for any students who would like to talk.
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