The plans to recognize Canada Day in Belleville will proceed as planned this year.
The Belleville Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee met virtually Thursday to discuss the plans in light of the recent discovery of the bodies of Indigenous children at the sites of former residential schools throughout the country.
The round-table style discussion, which lasted just over an hour and a half, was centred around whether or not to alter plans for Canada Day in July, how to foster a better relationship with Indigenous communities and to set the table for consultation on future events.
The plans for this year’s Canada Day are nearly identical to last year’s.
The day will kick off with a recognition ceremony for community heroes who have contributed to the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. After the recognition ceremony in Zwick’s Park, there will be a “parade” of red and white cars who will drive through the city past long term care homes and finishing at Belleville General Hospital.
Belleville Chamber of Commerce Jill Raycroft sought advice from the members of the committee on whether or not the plans needed any amending given the circumstances.
The general feeling of the committee was that any attempt to add an Indigenous inclusion element to the day’s events would be tokenism and insensitive.
Summer Bertrand, who is an instructional coach on Indigenous education for the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board, said that for Indigenous communities, it’s not a time to celebrate. When the possibility was raised of adding an Indigenous element she said that it would have to be entirely separate.
“I think we need to be mindful of what we’re going to do and definitely not make a combination of the events, if you understand what I’m saying. I think we need to almost separate the two events so that it’s a little bit clearer. Of course I see all the amazing things about living in this awesome country. I totally see that, I benefit from that daily. But I also am carrying that other piece of the history.”
Bertrand also questioned why the opinion of Indigenous communities was only being sought after Belleville council had voted to move forward with the event.
Raycroft clarified that the event plans had been approved before the discovery of the bodies of 215 Indigenous children at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., which had brought the conversation of Canada Day to the forefront for municipalities across the country in recent weeks.
Throughout the discussion, the committee generally agreed that education and recognition are two of the biggest keys on how to move forward on forming a stronger bond between the municipality and Indigenous peoples.
The committee eventually elected to not change the plans for Canada Day but also to have committee members draft a statement of recognition.
The statement, which will be completed by Monday and brought to Belleville council for endorsement, will be centred around recognition of the effect that the residential school system has had on Indigenous communities throughout the country as well as a clear commitment to consultation on future events in the municipality.
After the meeting, Raycroft said that they had explored options to alter the event.
“We had made a couple of suggestions just to give some ideas on how we could be inclusive I guess was the idea, except that the problem is that inclusion in this event is tokenism and disrespectful. That’s what I’m learning.”
Raycroft said that the chamber does six events for the city every year, including the summer multicultural festival. She said that moving forward she’d be excited and happy to consult more closely with Indigenous communities on how to involve Indigenous culture in city events.
“What we will do moving forward, though, is continue to have this conversation so that when we have a Canada Day celebration next year, it is relevant and it we have made headway. Whether or not there is an Indigenous community representation in that, what ever we do will have been done in consultation with our Indigenous community.”
The committee also discussed the possibility of planning an event for National Truth and Reconciliation Day, or Orange Shirt Day, on September 30 which was recently designated a statutory holiday.
Councillor Sean Kelly, who sits on Belleville council, chaired the meeting. He said that he left the meeting feeling very encouraged and happy about the dialogue the committee had.
“Today’s meeting was to explore ways to collaborate with First Nations and that round-table discussion on future partnership opportunities with Indigenous peoples. Hopefully this is the first of many conversations as we build relationships, respect, transparency and working together.”
Nominations for community heroes are still open on the Belleville Chamber of Commerce website. The nominations are for essential and frontline workers who have worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The community heroes will be recognized July 1 at Zwick’s Park by Mayor Mitch Panciuk, MPP Todd Smith and MP Neil Ellis.
