Williams Lake Mayor removes himself from all external appointments of the City of Williams Lake

Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:

Following City of Williams Lake Council’s response at its Regular Meeting of November 2, 2021 to correspondence from Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars critical of a social media post shared by Mayor Walt Cobb titled ‘Residential schools – the other side of the story,” and a presentation from residential school survivor and advocate Charlene Belleau, 

Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb has shared the following statement:

“After much reflection and additional discussion with Council, once again I take full responsibility for my actions and accept the negative impact they have had. I have made the decision to remove myself from all external City of Williams Lake appointments, including the Cariboo Regional District Board and the City’s appointment to the Chamber of Commerce, Williams Lake Downtown Business Improvement Association and the Cariboo-Chilcotin/Lillooet Regional Advisory Committee, effective immediately to allow myself to reflect on the current situation. After a meeting with members of Council, new Council appointments will be made to those positions.

“It is not my intent to step down as Mayor. I will continue to serve my community as I was elected to do and will work hard for the betterment of our entire community. The City continues to promote investment, development, and opportunity, and will continue its good work. There are many important projects underway that we will continue to make progress on.”

City of Williams Lake to have new rep on #CaribooRD Board

Yesterday and today -- the Cariboo Regional District Board voted and ultimately approved a Special Resolution requesting the City of Williams Lake Council to revisit their representative to the Cariboo RD Board however that will not now go forward as Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb has decided to step aside as the City of Williams Lake representative to the Cariboo Regional District Board -- Cariboo RD Board Chair Margo Wagner reviews the details with My Cariboo Now here 

It will be up to Williams Lake City Council to appoint one of their 6 Councillors to be the Director of Williams Lake on the Cariboo Regional District as per Section 198 of the Local Government Act for the remainder of the 2018-2022 term

I personally wish to thank Mayor Cobb for his 3 years on the Cariboo RD Board and we all look forward to welcome the City of Williams Lake's new rep to the Regional District Board at our meetings of November 18/19th, 2021

Walt Cobb remains Mayor of the City of Williams Lake until the conclusion of the October 15th, 2022 City of Williams Lake Local General Election 

SF

TNG rejects "non-apology" of Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb and renews its' call that he resign from office

Courtesy of the Tsilhqot'in National Government:

The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is rejecting Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb’s disgraceful attempt at an apology in response to a lengthy statement the Mayor shared on social post in support of the residential school system (since deleted). The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is renewing calls for Mayor Cobb to resign as yet another racist statement circulates on social media.

The Tŝilhqot’in Nation initially called for Mayor Cobb’s resignation after he shared a lengthy opinion piece on social in defence of residential schools, that included such statements as “[t]he churches do not need to apologize for trying to educate the poor in the only system that would work for nomadic peoples” and “many of the new generations just want to be victims and feel the money would solve their pain”

Last evening at a City Council meeting, Mayor Cobb stated he was “sorry” for causing offence, but also criticized the concerns raised by First Nations leadership as a “personal attack” that “does not strengthen any relationship that we have been trying to build”. Council members all denounced the Mayor’s comments but all stopped short of demanding that the Mayor resign.

At the same time, screen captures circulating on social media appear to document another post (since deleted) from Mayor Cobb’s personal account, reportedly around the same time period, commenting “… my mother in law used to say if it was shitty weather let the Indians have it.” The Tŝilhqot’in Nation continues to condemn the racist words and actions of Mayor Cobb and calls for his immediate resignation

TNG Tribal Chair Joe Alphonse stated:

"It is past the point of apologies and saying sorry to cause offence. This is not an isolated incident. This is a pattern, this is a state of mind, and it is unacceptable in a leader in this day and age. By his words and actions, Walt Cobb has lost all authority to govern and can no longer be Mayor. This Williams Lake City Council will lose all legitimacy if it wrings its hands but does nothing to remove him from leadership. He has made it very clear that he has no care or regard for Indigenous peoples in Williams Lake and the surrounding communities. Is this something the City Council and the people of Williams Lake are prepared to stand behind? Walt Cobb is an embarrassment to Williams Lake, he brings shame to this region, and it is time to turn the page and do better”.

Mayor Walt Cobb not welcome in ?Esdilagh FN

Courtesy of ?Esdilagh (Alexandria) First Nation:

TNG calls for resignation of Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb

Courtesy of the Tsilhqot'in National Government:

The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is calling for the resignation of Walt Cobb, the Mayor of Williams Lake, after the Mayor shared a lengthy opinion piece on social media that purported to share the “other side” of residential schools, including such statements as “[t]he churches do not need to apologize for trying to educate the poor in the only system that would work for nomadic peoples” and “many of the new generations just want to be victims and feel the money would solve their pain”.

This is not an isolated incident for Mayor Cobb and the Williams Lake Council. In June 2020, Mayor Cobb and Councillor Marnie Brenner reportedly opined about the need to understand “both sides of the story” when it comes to residential schools, in discussions with Williams Lake First Nation about an unrelated matter. Despite efforts to educate Williams Lake City Council about the realities of the residential school system, and despite the confirmation of unmarked graves at Tk'emlúps residential school and other sites across Canada, and despite the active site investigation efforts at St. Joseph’s Mission in the area and the Indian Hospital and Day School grounds at Tl’etinqox, Mayor Cobb continues to deny and dismiss the trauma experienced at these institutions by First Nations peoples and families in Williams Lake and the surrounding communities.

This is irresponsible and unacceptable conduct for a mayor in 2021. The Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) calls for the resignation of Mayor Cobb and encourages others – who can rightfully take pride in the region as the home of “Orange Shirt Day” – to join this call and demand new leadership and direction for the City of Williams Lake.

TNG Tribal Chair Joe Alphonse said:

Anywhere else in Canada, at any level of government, endorsing these types of comments about residential schools would disqualify you from public office. Why is it still acceptable in Williams Lake? Other regions of British Columbia and Canada are finally acknowledging the trauma of the residential schools and the ongoing impacts for our communities. Other regions are building relationships with First Nations peoples and communities – but not Mayor Cobb. This type of mentality has to end. It is an embarrassment to the City and the region. Mayor Cobb should finally make a positive contribution to reconciliation and resign as Mayor, immediately, and make room for the real leadership this region urgently needs. If Mayor Cobb does not resign, then Williams Lake Council should hold him accountable and fire him.” 

City of WL Response to Open Letter from WLFN Chief Willie Sellars

Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:

In response to an open letter issued by Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars critical of a recent social media post shared by Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb on Friday, October 29, the City of Williams Lake is addressing the matter sincerely and seriously.

Chief Sellars’ open letter to the City criticizes a social media post shared by Mayor Cobb on Friday morning, October 29, titled ‘Residential schools – the other side of the story.’ In the letter, Chief Sellars requests City of Williams Lake Council to clarify its position in relation to residential schools and their impact on First Nations people.

“We received the letter Friday and have had ongoing discussions throughout the weekend between City staff and members of Council, and we will be providing a formal response on Tuesday, November 2 during our regular Council meeting,” said City of Williams Lake Chief Administrative Officer Gary Muraca. “The City of Williams Lake takes this matter seriously, and continues to work toward meaningful reconciliation.”

The City of Williams Lake remains committed to reconciliation efforts in collaboration with our First Nations neighbours moving forward.

Condemnation of comments of WL Mayor W. Cobb re: Residential Schools

Yesterday evening - the Williams Lake Tribune reported on a Facebook post from Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb about residential schools/"other side of the story" -- you can read that here

Upon learning of this -- Williams Lake First Nation Kukpi7 (Chief) Willie Sellars issued an Open Letter to Williams Lake City Council about Mayor Cobb's Facebook post - read the letter here.  Kukpi7 Sellars has asked for a response from Williams Lake City Council by end of day on Monday, November 1st

The public response to the Facebook post of Mayor Cobb was swift and predictable -- widespread condemnation of the Facebook post.  As of the writing of this post -- the Williams Lake Tribune Facebook page had recorded 103 comments and 103 shares of the Tribune news story

In my opinion - the Facebook post of Mayor Cobb was a "gross error in judgement" and as Kukpi7 Sellars has appropriately noted:

"We (WLFN) can no longer abide the City of Williams Lake, or any of its elected officials, trying to advance a narrative which is a slap in the face to our community, to other First Nations communities, or to the vast majority of Canadians who acknowledge the horror of residential schools and who want to assist with reconciliation"

Put bluntly -- my Cariboo RD Area Alternate Director, Phyllis Webstad, is a residential school survivor and there is NO such thing as "other sides" in residential school horrors, particularly with the news coming from Kamloops and elsewhere across Canada about child graves at residential schools... 

I hope that Williams Lake City Council will reflect appropriately over the weekend and when responding to the letter of Williams Lake First Nation next week, it will do so with true reconciliation between Indigenous and Non Indigenous Canadians in mind -- both in writing and in person...

SF