City of Saskatoon to lower flags to honour children found in unmarked graves at former Sask. residential school
The City of Saskatoon’s flags will be lowered to half-mast at 9 a.m. on Thursday to honour the children found in unmarked graves at the former Marieval Indian Residential School on Cowessess First Nation.
“This brings the horrific truth of these schools right to our doorstep,” Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark said in a news release.
“Many of these children will have had direct relatives who now live in Saskatoon. They are the missing children that families have been trying to find over the decades.
“We must support Chief Delorme and the Cowessess community, the survivors and family members of Marieval Residential School students. I cannot imagine the pain and grief people are feeling. We must hold it in our own hearts with them.”
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations said in a news release Wednesday that “the number of unmarked graves will be the most significantly substantial to date in Canada.”
Cowessess First Nation is scheduled to make an official announcement and provide more details Thursday morning.
Clark said he has attended the annual Cowesses First Nations Christmas supper for Saskatoon band members and seen the vibrancy and warmth of the community.
“As we digest this devastating news, we must move to action and commit to right the wrongs of our country and work together towards Truth and Reconciliation,” he said.
“The City is committed to this work and lowering the flags is only one action we will be taking to support the community at this time.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.