OTTAWA —
A sea of orange shirts replaced the usual red and white on Parliament Hill and in downtown Ottawa on July 1, as thousands of people called to “Cancel Canada Day” following the recent discovery of unmarked graves at three former residential schools.
The Anishnabe nation and Indigenous rights group Idle No More organized the “#CancelCanadaDay” march from the Indigenous Services Canada building in Gatineau to Parliament Hill on Thursday.
In a statement on its website, Idle No More said the gathering was to “honour all of the lives lost to the Canadian state.”
“We will not celebrate the ongoing genocide within Canada against Indigenous people,” says a statement on Facebook. “Instead we will gather to honour all of the lives lost to the Canadian state, including the many lives lost to residential schools.”
Thousands of people, many wearing orange shirts, shouted “Shame on Canada”, “No pride on genocide,” and “Bring them home” as they walked onto Parliament Hill.
Elders and residential school survivors started off the speakers with a prayer.
Elder Claudette Commanda said she was happy to see everyone attending the march and wearing orange.
“If Canada is true to its reconciliation, it is with nations. It is with not corporations and we are the nation,” said Commanda.
Commando added today was a day to honour the children who were recovered at the sites of the former residential schools.
“They were never forgotten.”
“This is not a day for celebrations. This is a day for reflection,” said one speaker about July 1 in Canada.
The Canadian flag on the Peace Tower continues to fly at half-mast to recognize the discovery of children’s remains at residential schools in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Flags are also flying at half-mast at city of Ottawa sites.
Last week, a memorial started on Parliament Hill following the discovery of 751 unmarked graves at a former residential school in Saskatchewan. The memorial in front of the Centennial Flame includes shoes, stuffed animals and messages.
Canada Day events are cancelled in Ottawa for a second straight year due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Canadian Heritage is hosting a virtual Canada Day celebration at 8 p.m., instead of the usual giant show on Parliament Hill and at Major’s Hill Park.
In a statement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged that for some July 1, is “not yet a day of celebration.”
“The horrific findings of the remains of hundreds of children at the sites of former residential schools in British Columbia and Saskatchewan have rightly pressed us to reflect on our country’s historic failures, and the injustices that still exist for Indigenous peoples and may others in Canada,” said Trudeau.
“We as Canadians must be honest with ourselves about our past.”
On Wednesday, Mayor Jim Watson urged Ottawa residents to, “celebrate what brings us together and reflect on how we can collectively work towards reconciliation.”
“While I look forward to an opportunity to celebrate our county with many residents next year, now more than more than ever it’s most appropriate that we take the time to work towards meaningful reconciliation with all partners,” said Watson in a statement on Wednesday.
“This is a time to recognize that our country’s past practices, which have scarred far too many generations of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples.”
SOME OTTAWA BUSINESSES CLOSE ON CANADA DAY
Some Ottawa businesses decided to remain closed on Canada Day following the discovery of the unmarked graves and out of respect for Indigenous communities in Canada.
The Gilmour and The Merry Dairy both said they would remain closed.
“On Canada Day, we come together to celebrate Canada as one of the best and greatest countries on earth. But to truly be the best and greatest country means owning up to the brutal facts of our past and present,” said the Merry Dairy in a post on Twitter on June 1.
“Each of us needs to do our own part to atone, reconcile, and live together as fellow human beings with the respect and dignity each of us deserve.”
If you are a former residential school student in distress, or have been affected by the residential school system and need help, you can contact the 24-hour Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419.
Additional mental-health support and resources for Indigenous people are available here.
With files from CTV News parliamentary correspondent Creeson Agecoutay
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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