Quesnel Council Highlights - April 2nd meeting

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Agenda Items Postponed to April 9, 2024

Council approved postponing the following agenda items to a future Council meeting.  A Special Open Council meeting will be held following the North Cariboo Joint Advisory Committee meeting on April 9th to address, in part:

Staff Reports:

• Surplus - 2024
• Parking Report regarding DP2023-63 Development Permit application
• Business Improvement Area Levies - 2024

Correspondence:

• Request from the Prospector's Car Club to block portions of Reid Street for the 2024 car show.

Quesnel rallies to counter Residential School denialism

In follow-up to the March 19, 2024 Regular Council meeting Agenda Item M.3) - Correspondence was received from Lhtako Dene Nation requesting reaffirmation of the City of Quesnel/Lhtako Dene Nation Memorandum of Understanding, in response to distribution of a book in the community, denying the truths and effects of Residential Schools.  After that meeting, correspondence was received from the following organizations 

• March 20, 2024 - Correspondence to Quesnel City Council from Nazko First Nation - Residential School Denial/Misinformation - Request to Meet

• March 21, 2024 - Press Release from School District #28 - Quesnel Board of Education Reaffirm Commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action

• March 22, 2024 - Correspondence to Mayor & Council from North Cariboo Metis Association - Urging education and awareness of Residential School history

• March 22, 2024 - News Release from the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations - BCAFN Congratulates City of Quesnel and Lhtako Dene Nation for Leading the Way on Reconciliation

After this agenda item, Acting Mayor Vik opened the floor to gallery comments/questions, starting with Chiefs & Elders from local Indigenous Bands. 

The stories from Chiefs & Elders were moving, as they recalled many accounts of the damages both historical and ongoing resulting from Residential Schools. To hear these personal accounts, watch the April 2nd Quesnel City Council meeting here

Council was invited to visit the communities, share food, learn from and get to know the Elders, and participate in sweats, to start healing the respect and trust that has been broken due to alleged actions of the Mayor & his wife. 

Council directed Staff to prepare a report for a future meeting, outlining censure and possible sanctions on Mayor Paull.