Flags lowered outside of Lethbridge City Hall (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

City of Lethbridge lowers flags to honour lives lost at Kamloops residential school

May 31, 2021 | 11:18 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The City of Lethbridge is honouring the lives of 215 children whose remains were discovered on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.

The discovery was made earlier this month, with the chief of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc calling the finding “unthinkable”. The children were students at the school, with some of them as young as three-years-old.

READ MORE: “Unthinkable” – 215 child graves found at former Kamloops Indian Residential School

On Monday, May 31, the flags at Lethbridge City Hall were lowered in memory of the 215 lives that were taken at the former residential school.

Flags lowered at the Yates Centre in Lethbridge (Lethbridge News Now)

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: April 15, 2024

Apr 15, 2024

Week-in-review: Street sweeping, policing in Coaldale and #SlowYourRoll

Apr 13, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 12, 2024

Apr 12, 2024

The city stated that the discovery is a “stark reminder” of the trauma carried by residential school survivors, their families and communities.

Plans are being made to identify the remains of the more than 200 children and return them to their homes.

READ MORE: Work underway for forensics experts t identify and repatriate B.C. school remains

School boards, municipal buildings across the country are also lowering their flags, with other initiatives taking place in Canadian communities. Canadians are also encouraged to wear orange and use the #EveryChildMatters on social media.

The Lethbridge School Division has lowered its flags outside of the main administration building.

The division said it “maintains its commitment to support our Indigenous students and families, which includes the efforts of the Indigenous Education department to assist Division schools in being responsive to the needs of Indigenous students.”

“Our division has worked to develop inclusive programming, through a wide variety of initiatives, which include weaving Indigenous perspectives into the curriculum. We recognize, however, more work is needed to create a strong future for our next generation of students.”

Meanwhile, Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said Monday morning that Ottawa has not done enough to implement the 94 calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Sign remarked that it isn’t enough for the Liberal government to make symbolic gestures like lowering flags and more concrete action, in partnership with First Nations communities, needs to be taken.

READ MORE: NDP urges Ottawa to enact TRC calls to action following school burial site discovery

LNN has put out a request for comment to the Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee.