Update: Mayor Steve Ferguson told Quinte News that council and staff are aware of the letter and an initial meeting to discuss has been had but there is no official update as discussions are ongoing.
Original story below.
Members of the Prince Edward County Canada Day Committee are calling on Shire Hall to stand with them in boycotting the 2021 Canada Day celebrations in solidarity with Indigenous communities.
In an open letter to Prince Edward County council, members of the committee announced that they will not be participating in Canada Day celebrations this year in light of the recent discovery of the bodies of 215 Indigenous children buried at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.
In the letter they say they, “cannot, in good conscience, participate in leading Canada Day celebrations in Prince Edward County this year” and that they encourage council to stand with them.
They say they’ve already commissioned two pieces of art for Wellington and Picton and will still pay the artists but will also ask them to halt work on the pieces.
The letter says that, moving forward, they will look at diversifying their committee and reimagining their approach to Canada Day.
To see the full statement click here.
