A note for families: School threats by teens

What it is

Recent Ontario police cases show teens making threats against schools, one of them in a youth group chat after an argument got heated; the threats may turn out to be empty, but kids who post or send them can be charged.

How much it matters

Real, documented harm. A person checked this card before it was published.

Should you worry?

In these cases the threats were taken seriously by police even when no weapons were found, and at least one teen was charged. The pattern: insults escalate in a big group chat, someone types a threat as a "joke" or in anger, and others screenshot and share it. Parents often are the ones who report it. Warning signs: your teen is in a heated group chat, is repeating or forwarding threatening messages, or is anxious about going to school. Talk with your teen now: a threat sent as a joke is still treated as a crime, and there is no taking it back once it's screenshotted. If your teen sees a threat, they should tell you or a school adult right away and not forward it. If you see one, report it to the school and police.

If you’re worried

If there is an immediate danger at a school, call 911. For a threat that is not urgent, contact the school and your local police. If your teen is anxious, upset or struggling after seeing or sending a threat, Kids Help Phone is there at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting 686868. If anything touches on self-harm or suicide, call or text 988.

Sources

• Parents on edge following threat against north London school – CTVNews https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/video/2025/12/03/parents-on-edge-following-threat-against-north-london-school/
• Haldimand County investigating threat made to Caledonia high school - The Turtle Island News https://theturtleislandnews.com/index.php/2025/12/11/haldimand-county-investigating-threat-made-to-caledonia-high-school/