RCMP say a student at Niverville Collegiate Institute made a threat Tuesday night over social media towards the school.

Sergeant Paul Manaigre says they were notified at approximately 10:30 pm. The post on Instagram showed a picture of a firearm, with the caption, "Schools Gonna Be Fun Tomorrow."

Manaigre says the student is a 16-year-old male youth from the RM of Tache. The information led police to speak with several youths. He notes it turned out to be a BB gun in the picture and not a real firearm.

"In this day and age with the firearms themselves you never know what you are dealing with," says Manaigre.

According to RCMP, the post was by a student at the school, though police also spoke to a second person of interest who did not have a direct connection.

Randy Dueck is Superintendent of Hanover School Division. He says they were made aware of the post early Wednesday morning after some people in the community saw it online. The division immediately contacted RCMP and learned police were already investigating.

As of Wednesday noon, charges have not been laid. Manaigre says the investigation is ongoing and it will have to be determined whether or not the matter proceeds to court.

Classes were not canceled Wednesday, nor was the school ever in lockdown. Dueck says RCMP made it very clear they had neutralized the threat and there was no sense that either the school or its students were unsafe. Manaigre adds most of the follow-up was conducted Tuesday evening already and so a lockdown Wednesday was not necessary.

"We had contact with the school, advising them of our progress but we didn't have any concerns with there being any concerns at the school," says Manaigre.

"We are very assured by the RCMP that everybody in our school community there is safe, that's of utmost importance to us and until we had that assurance we weren't sure exactly what was going to happen today," adds Dueck.

He notes that assurance came early Wednesday morning. Dueck says they take these threats very seriously.

"We have to, one never knows is this a serious one or not," he says. "But it's not a luxury of ours to decide if it is a serious one or not."

Manaigre says he can't speak to the motive right now, but says RCMP treats these threats very serious until they can be proven otherwise.

"Especially with the tragic incidents we've had in the States recently," he says. "You don't know what peoples' thoughts or intentions are when they make these posts on social media. So, of course, we respond quickly and we investigate it thoroughly."

Dueck adds Hanover School Division has a very good safety and threat assessment protocol in place.

Manaigre reminds parents to speak to children about what can and can not be posted on social media. And if there is a concern, such as this one, to bring it to the attention of RCMP.