The City of Dieppe is just one of many communities to cancel festivities for July 1st.
Mayor Yvon Lapierre says this is due to the recent discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves on the sites of former indigenous residential schools, “We suggest that we all take a few moments to reflect on these difficult events in this time in our history as a nation. Let us now take a bit of time peacefully and in silence reflect on these events.”
In the Town of Riverview, they are encouraging everyone who would like to express messages of peace, to drop by the gazebo on Coverdale Road between 12 to 5 p.m. on July 1st to sign an orange banner.
The banner will be displayed at Riverview Town Hall until Orange Shirt Day on September 30th, an occasion to commemorate the experiences of First Nations, Metis and Inuit children in residential schools.
The City of Moncton was illuminated in orange last night, in solidarity with Indigenous peoples across Canada.