Victoria postpones Canada Day plans in light of residential school deaths
The City of Victoria is no longer planning to host a virtual Canada Day celebration on July 1 and will instead create a broadcast focused on broader Canadian history with guidance from local Lekwungen people.
The city says the broadcast will be released later in the summer and will consider "what it means to be Canadian."
"Context changed when those 215 children's bodies were discovered and they (the Lekwungen Nation) are reeling and everybody is reeling," said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps on Thursday. "We're all just doing our best to figure out how to move forward."
People visiting a residential school memorial on the steps of the B.C. legislature Thursday largely agreed with the city's assessment.
"It's very hard to feel pride in Canada these days, so yes, I think it's a good idea to just cancel it for this year," said island resident Margo Taylor-Ritchie.
"Maybe Canada Day this year should be in remembrance of all the residential school survivors and the victims," said another resident, Jennifer Gray.
Across the country there are similar calls to cancel this year's Canada Day celebrations.
On social media, #cancelcanadaday has been gaining traction, and Indigenous group Idle No More has planned several rallies on July 1 across the country.
"I applaud the groups that take the time and energy and the daringness to really show that there are other ways and other explanations – and are not pretending that life is just the same as it was yesterday or the day before," said Priscilla Settee, Indigenous studies professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
Victoria council unanimously voted to replace the Canada Day broadcast at a council meeting Thursday.
In May, before the remains of the children in Kamloops were discovered, Victoria was looking for applicants to produce a virtual Canada Day event, similar to what took place in 2020.
At the time, the virtual event had a budget of $65,000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.