The emotionally disturbing and unfathomable discovery of the remains of over 200 children found buried at the site of a former residential school in British Columbia’s southern Interior, is undoubtedly reverberating through our campus community.

Let us pause to collectively pay our respects and join in mourning the profound loss experienced by all Indigenous peoples and felt across diverse communities at McMaster and across nations. The McMaster community extends its sincere condolences to the families of the children and to all those impacted by this latest horrifying discovery.

First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples have for decades described the appalling conditions and severity of the residential school system, and the recent news only serves to deepen our humility and compassion and strengthen our resolve towards reconciliation.

The university flags will be lowered to half-mast beginning May 31 following the discovery of 215 bodies of children at the site of a former residential school in British Columbia’s southern Interior.

The flags will remain lowered for 215 hours, until Wednesday, June 9, in memory of the children who were sent to residential schools and in recognition of the profound loss experienced by all Indigenous peoples and felt across diverse communities at McMaster and across nations.