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Town of Prescott hosts flag-raising ceremony for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The Town of Prescott is acknowledging the hardships of Indigenous people and children.

A flag-raising ceremony was held on September 30th, for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The ceremony began at 12:15 PM, with both an Every Child Matters flag and the flag of the Haudenosaunee people being raised at the fountain on Water Street, in recognition of victims of the residential school system.

Mayor Brett Todd, who spoke at the event, says that events like this held in smaller communities are key to advancing truth and reconciliation in Canada. 

“We’re a small town,” Todd says, “and this is, really, it’s a small gesture today, with the flag raising. It’s a very small thing in many ways when you look at the horrific history that has particularly had a spotlight shone on it. It’s a very ugly period in Canadian history, with residential schools, and we’re starting to really take stock of that.”

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“So, while we acknowledge that this is a small event today,” Todd continues, “by raising a flag and acknowledging our Indigenous history, you’ve also got to realize that this is happening all over Canada. This is happening in small towns everywhere, and that’s an achievement. That’s something that unfortunately didn’t happen when [the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada] issued its 94 calls to action a number of years ago, but it is starting to happen now, and little gestures like this in little towns all over Canada, I think, are making a big difference.”

Mayor Todd ended the event by thanking everyone who attended, and town staff for organizing the ceremony.

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