Greg Rickford, Ontario Minister of Indigenous Affairs, said provincial flags will be flown at half-mast to pay respect to the 215 children whose remains were found at the site of an Indian residential school in Kamloops.
“This is a dark reminder of the pain that continues to impact Indigenous people across Canada,” he said.
Meanwhile, Durham District School Board (DDSB) announced that flags at all DDSB schools will be lowered to half-mast on Monday for 215 hours (9 days) to honour the children found in a mass grave at the residential school in Kamloops.
“Sadly, this reminds us of the horrific impact that the Canadian residential school system and genocide against Indigenous peoples has had, and continues to have, on Indigenous students, families and communities. The DDSB is committed to prioritizing Indigenous Inherent Rights and the path of reconciliation as we take continued and collective action to positively transform outcomes for Indigenous youth and families,” it said.
Dan Carter, Mayor of Oshawa said on Monday, the flags at City Hall will be lowered to honour the memory of the 215 children found in a mass grave at the residential school in Kamloops, B.C. They will be lowered for 215 hours. “Our hearts break for each and every child and family.”
Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) will lower flags due to the discovery of remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in memory of the thousands of children who were sent to residential schools, for those who never returned & in honour of the families whose lives were forever changed.
We will be lowering City of Pickering flags to half-mast at all City facilities to both mourn and honour these children. Our hope is that they can be identified and returned home to bring peace and closure to their families, communities, and Indigenous peoples across Canada.
Finding the remains of these innocent children is an extremely painful and powerful reminder of the dark and shameful legacy of Canada’s residential school system. For this reason, it is even more poignant and important that we collectively recognize National Indigenous History Month, which begins on June 1st. We ask all to take the time to reflect upon and learn the history, sacrifices, cultures, contributions, and strength of our First Nations, Inuit, and Métis so that we can continue on our journey of reconciliation and renewal.”
Mayor Shaun Collier, said on behalf of Ajax Council, I have ordered all flags at Town Of Ajax facilities lowered to half mast effective tomorrow morning (Sunday) in memory of the 215 children discovered on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops.