Residents of the Parksville Qualicum Beach area will notice many flags flown at half-mast for approximately eight days.
The City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach and School District 69 (Qualicum) all advised their schools and municipal facilities have lowered flags in memory of the 215 Indigenous children whose remains were uncovered earlier in May at a former residential school in Kamloops.
In a social media post, the City of Parksville stated their flags at the civic and technology centre will be at half-mast. Deb Tardiff, the manager of communications with the city, advised they were lowered on Sunday, May 30, and will remained lowered until Wednesday, June 9.
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A town official with Qualicum Beach also advised that they have lowered their flags, at all facilities, in memorial of the 215 Indigenous children. She said the flags will be lowered for 215 hours, starting as of 8 a.m. on Monday, May 31.
Dr. Keven Elder, the superintendent for SD69, wrote in an email to PQB News that the district made the decision during the weekend, in consultation with the Qualicum and Snaw Naw As First Nations, as well as employee groups. School flags were lowered on Monday, May 31 and will remain lowered until end of day June 8. Elder also wrote that the district reached out to all employees and families to advise them of the lowering of the flags and to encourage them to wear orange in support of this ‘important cause of awareness and reconciliation.”