Council will spend up to $43,450 to consult with local First Nations on transforming the amphitheatre park beside City Hall.
The idea was unveiled at last (Tuesday) night’s City Council meeting.
Mayor Bob Simpson planning for this space will be done in full collaboration with the Chiefs of Lhtako Dene, Nazko, Lhoosk’uz Dene and Esdilagh.
“I was able to approach the Chiefs of our local First Nations with that idea in mind of creating a special gathering place, a healing place, a place that we can bring the community together on these National days for Truth and Reconciliation and continue to recognize Orange Shirt Day.”
Simpson says the idea is to have a special place to tell the stories of residential school survivors and to remember what the residential school system was and its impact on our country.
But he says there is a lot of work to do.
“There are some engineering standards issues of taking the tiers in that park and turning them into actual seating, finding artisans to do potentially a sculpture and potentially a mural on the side wall by St. Laurent Avenue, and then of course it takes time to gather the stories and be able to then render them into story boards.”
Simpson says they would like to have a preliminary design and some design options ready as early as the spring, and he would like to have at least the beginning of the transformation in place before the next September 30th Truth and Reconciliation Day.
Simpson says the Chiefs have indicated that they would be interested in supporting the project with possible financing as well, either for the planning or the building.