Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson has called a special meeting of county council to discuss the “Holding Court” statue of Sir John A. Macdonald on Picton Main Street.
In a press release Friday afternoon it was announced that a meeting will take place Monday, June 7, in light of the recent discovery of 215 bodies of Indigenous children underground at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.
The discovery has renewed conversation on the role that Sir John A. Macdonald played in the institution of residential schools and the statue on Picton Main Street has been a topic of contention dating back as far as the fall of 2020.
In the press release, Ferguson is quoted as saying:
“The national conversation sparked by the discovery of remains of 215 Indigenous children at a residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia, is reason to pause and reflect on the “Holding Court” statue. A dialogue about the statue is necessary as it relates to public safety and the contractual obligations of the municipality.”
The virtual meeting will be held Monday at 7 p.m. via zoom and will be live streamed on the Prince Edward County council YouTube page.
Anyone who wants to provide public comment at the meeting can register by contacting the Prince Edward County clerk at clerks@pecounty.on.ca.
