Greater Victoria municipalities recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Greater Victoria, BC.; Regional Mayors of Greater Victoria’s 13 municipalities are committed to honouring the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, and recognizing the impacts on their families and communities.

This year, the 13 municipalities took a collaborative approach to explore how to commemorate the tragic and painful history of residential schools on September 30 with Greater Victoria Mayors reaching out together to nine Indigenous communities in the region for guidance, including Songhees Nation, Esquimalt Nation, Sc’ianew First Nation, T’Sou-ke Nation, Tsartlip First Nation, Tsawout First Nation, Tseycum First Nation, Pauquachin First Nation, and Malahat First Nation.

At the request of local Indigenous leaders, flags will be flown at half-mast on September 30^th across Greater Victoria municipalities. Additional activities may be organized locally as well. In some cases, municipalities are making financial contributions to events and initiatives led by Indigenous communities.

Plans for the 2022 National Day of Truth and Reconciliation reflect local guidance, recognizing that not all Nations have shared their perspectives. How municipalities observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will continue to evolve across the South Island in future years as local governments grow their relationship with local First Nations.

For more information on local government efforts related to the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, please reach out to individual municipalities.

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