Statement from the CBA President on the discovery of human remains near former residential school in Cranbrook, B.C.

  • June 30, 2021

The discovery of 182 unmarked graves near the site of a former residential school near Cranbook, in British Columbia, is another painful wound for survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Not a week after the remains of 751 souls were found in Saskatchewan and mere weeks since the discovery of 215 children near Kamloops shocked Canadians, this latest discovery is another reminder of the urgency of ensuring every effort is made to find, identify and repatriate the remains of every child who died in residential schools.

The Canadian Bar Association once again joins those who mourn the lives lost to cultural genocide and stand in solidarity with their families and communities. We will continue to do so with each discovery.

We will also, every time, call on the government of Canada to dedicate all necessary resources, without delay, to implementing the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 71-76 to find, identify and return every missing child.

Brad Regehr
CBA President