Saskatchewan city postpones Canada Day out of respect for mourning First Nation
A Saskatchewan city north of the Cowessess First Nation has postponed its Canada Day parade and fireworks following news last week that hundreds of unmarked graves were identified on land at the site of a former residential school.
The City of Melville says in a statement that its council held a special meeting Friday night to discuss the unmarked graves and the upcoming July 1 celebrations.
The statement says that out of respect for its neighbours on the First Nation as well as all residential school survivors and their families, Melville's Canada Day events are postponed and that the mayor and council will consult with leaders of local First Nations "in an effort to plan a cross-cultural celebration in the summer of 2021."
It further says council encourages people to place a candle in their window or on their front step, or hang an orange shirt in their window in support of Cowessess First Nation, residential school survivors and all those who are in mourning.
The Cowessess First Nation announced Thursday that 751 unmarked graves at the former Marieval Indian Residential School were located using ground-penetrating radar, the same technology that detected what are believed to be the remains of 215 children at another former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.
A number of Canadian communities have already announced they are partially or fully cancelling their Canada Day celebrations in solidarity.
"The City of Melville encourages families to still rejoice in all that we have here in Canada and courteously celebrate in their own way. There is a dark cloud that hangs over our country as unmarked graves continue to be discovered across the nation, and we must be mindful of those affected," the statement from the city said.
Melville, which has a population of approximately 4,500 people, is about 50 kilometres north of the Cowessess First Nation.
Following Thursday's announcement of the 751 unmarked graves, Melville Mayor Walter Streelasky extended condolences to the neighbouring community.
"The severity of this indignation is beyond comprehension and we, as your neighbours, join with you in a true spirit of solidarity and reflection as we work to right the past mistakes," Streelasky said in a statement Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.