4 north Edmonton schools placed ‘on alert’ after nearby weapons complaint

Edmonton police say they put several schools in the Dickinsfield neighbourhood on alert Tuesday while officers dealt with a nearby weapons complaint.

The Edmonton Police Service says this was done “out of an abundance of caution” as authorities responded to the incident at a home on 144 Avenue and 92 Street.

Around noon, several police vehicles were in the area, including a HELP community team knocking on doors.

Police told CityNews at 12:16 p.m. that the home in question was contained, and there was no threat to public safety.

At least four schools were impacted: St. Philip Catholic Elementary, Cardinal Léger Catholic Junior, Dickinsfield School and Northmount School.

Edmonton Catholic Schools and Edmonton Public Schools says their schools were put on alert — not lockdown, as Edmonton police previously indicated. Authorities later rectified that terminology, confirming the schools were put on alert.

“When a school is on alert, the doors are locked and no one is allowed to enter or leave the school, but students and staff are free to move around within the building and classes continue as normal,” an EPSB spokesperson explained. “Students were safe at all times and continued learning in their classrooms.”

Students could be seen going in and out of Dickinsfield School around 12:30 p.m., as the doors were unlocked.