By Cheryl Jahn

City commits to Action Plan on Reconciliation

Jun 21, 2022 | 3:52 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The City of Prince George is one of 96 Canadian cities to sign on to advance initiatives that promote social inclusion, eradicate all forms of racism and discrimination and promote human rights and diversity. The City signed on back in 2010, but nothing more was ever done.

“I can appreciate why the Council of the time, the Policy Advisory Committee said ‘This is a good thing.’ Because it was really a way for the City to say ‘We’re against racism, and discrimination, we are committed to inclusion.’ And by signing this we have an opportunity to network with other municipalities of similar views,” explains Chris Bone, the Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives.

Some of those common commitments include:

o Increasing vigilance against systemic and individual discrimination,

Barry Seymour

Local First Nations leader will be missed

28m ago

Drought Conditions

Lowlands face drought despite snowpack

44m ago

The stuff they learn here, they carry for life. Prince George swim coach hangs up his stopwatch after three decades

2h ago

o Monitoring discrimination in the municipality,

o Providing equal opportunities as a municipal employer,

o Supporting measures that promote equity in the labour market.

o Involving citizens by giving them a voice in anti-racism initiatives and decision-making,

o Promoting the respect, knowledge, and appreciation of cultural diversity in the cultural fabric of the municipality

But an Action plan was not pursued after the signing. Much has changed since 2010, starting in 2015. That’s when the Lheidli T’enneh became the first, first nation host of the Canada Winter Games, Fort George Park was renamed Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park in honour of their historical ties to that area of the City and more.

“Huge examples. Huge examples of the relationship,” says Chief Dolleen Logan of the Lheidli T’enneh. “The City’s been behind us 100 percent. Like the Park, O’Grady, even our new daycare that we’re breaking ground on.”

Last week, Council resolved to pursue that Action Plan committed to twelve years ago. “Nothing ever good comes from waiting until something affects us personally directly before we take action,” says Councillor Terri McConnachie. “It means having the confidence to know that you may have had a good experience and good memories of a time and place. But it wasn’t the same for everybody.”

Chief Logan says she knows this is a very complex matter.

“I think First Nations don’t expect this to happen overnight. We all know it’s going to take a while.” Despite all the good relations between the City, the Regional District of Fraser Fort George and the Lheidli T’enneh, the lack of an action plan for reconciliation is a glaring omission, one City is bound and determined to rectify.