Calls to cancel Canada Day celebrations grow as Indigenous communities grieve mass grave discoveries
As Canada Day approaches, there are growing calls to cancel celebrations following the discovery of multiple mass graves containing the remains of residential school victims.
Already, there are plans for marches across the country and flags will be flown at half mast.
“It really resonates with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, about all these children that were found buried in these mass graves,” said Nakuset, director of the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal and organizer of the city's march. “It was hidden and supposed to be kept secret. I think it almost comes in waves where you hear about what happened in Kamloops. You're devastated and you grieve and start to move forward and then it's the next wave.”
The Montreal march will start at Jeanne-Mance Park at 2 p.m. and already, thousands have announced their intention to attend. The path will lead to Place du Canada, where until recently a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald stood. The likeness of Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister and an architect of the residential school system that saw Indigenous children stolen away from their families, was toppled by protesters in August.
On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada Day this year should be a day of reflection, rather than fireworks. But on Tourism Montreal's website, fireworks in the Old Port are still on the agenda for July 1.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
'Reimagining Mother's Day': Toronto woman creates Motherless Day event after losing mom
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
Sherpa guide Kami Rita scales Mount Everest for 29th time, extending his own record again
One of greatest climbing guides on Mount Everest has scaled the world's highest peak for the 29th time, extending his own record for most times to the summit, expedition organizers said Sunday.
As Israel pushes deeper into Rafah, Hamas regroups elsewhere in ungoverned Gaza
Israeli forces were battling Palestinian militants across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, including in parts of the devastated north that the military said it had cleared months ago, where Hamas has exploited a security vacuum to regroup.
Feds 'committed to doing more,' but minister offers no timeline for Canadian Disability Benefit boost
Amid significant criticism from advocates, Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Minister Kamal Khera is defending her government's long-promised, newly unveiled Canada Disability Benefit, calling the funds an "initial step," but without laying out a timeline for future expansion of the program.
Balancing act: Canadian North’s first Inuk CEO juggles Arctic airline challenges
With carriers' flight volumes above the 60th parallel hovering below pre-pandemic levels, Canadian North’s first Inuk CEO now bears the task of balancing those financial and logistical challenges with the needs of communities for which she feels a deep affinity.
Adopted daughter in the Netherlands reunited with sister in Montreal and mother in Colombia, 40 years later
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
RCMP boss expresses desire for new law to deal with threats against politicians
RCMP commissioner Mike Duheme says he wants the government to look at drafting a new law that would make it easier for police to pursue charges against people who threaten elected officials.