Dale Lang

On April 28, 1999, just eight days after the Columbine massacre, 17-year old Jason Lang was brutally killed in a so-called copycat shooting. This random act of violence took place at Jason’s high school in the small town of Taber, Alberta. He had never met the former student who pulled the trigger

Since that fateful day, Dale Lang has chosen to ensure that his son's life and death makes a lasting difference for other Canadian young people and adults and takes every opportunity to speak on the absolute priority of learning to forgive, and of treasuring our teens one day at a time. Dale who has told his story to nearly 200 high school audiences since that fateful day, said he will keep it up as long as he is making a difference.

In the days following the first fatal high school shooting in Canada in 20 years, shock and disbelief gripped all of us as Canadians. Tragedy can so easily crush us, embitter us, and turn us desperately inward. Dale Lang chose to respond to the death of his 17-year-old son Jason, by turning outward and living for others. Everything about Dale inspires hope in others. Dale proves that life is stronger than death, love is stronger than hate, forgiveness is stronger than revenge. My prayer for those reading this article is that Dale Lang’s example of forgiveness in the face of tragedy may inspire great healing in the lives of our families and friends.