Schools across the District School Board Ontario North East, including Cochrane, are flying their flags at half-mast to honour Izzy Palmateer, a student at Temiskaming District Secondary School in New Liskeard, Ontario, who passed away recently. The District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1) made the announcement on its website, saying all flags at its schools and workplaces have been lowered to remember the student.
“All flags have been lowered to honour the life of Temiskaming District Secondary School student, Izzy Palmateer. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and entire community,” the board stated in a notice on its website. The same message appeared on the Temiskaming District Secondary School site.
The board’s flag protocol, updated in February 2026, requires all locations to lower flags when a current student or employee dies. DSB1 oversees 32 schools from Hearst to Temagami, serving about 7,350 students across a vast area of northeastern Ontario. The half-mast tribute applies to every school and workplace in the board, uniting communities like Cochrane in a shared gesture of respect.
Director of Education Lesleigh Dye leads the board, which has offices in Schumacher and New Liskeard. While details about memorial services were not included in the announcement, the board’s policy keeps flags lowered until the day of any service, or for five school days if no service is held.
The tribute has drawn attention across the region, with many residents sharing condolences online. The loss has deeply affected students and staff, particularly at Temiskaming District Secondary School, where Izzy attended classes. Support services are expected to be available for those who need them, though the board did not release specific plans.
This gesture follows similar recent tributes by the board, including flags lowered for OPP Sgt. Brandon Malcolm in April 2026 and for Englehart High School staff member Marc Gorecki. In each case, the board emphasizes its commitment to supporting those affected by loss, upholding a practice that brings schools together in mourning.
DSB1’s territory stretches from Cochrane in the north to Temagami in the south, making this a region-wide show of support. The flag-lowering serves as a visible reminder of the student’s life and the connections that bind these communities.
