The Canadians for Reconciliation Society, a Chinese Christian-based society that works to promote reconciliation with Canada’s indigenous peoples and to raise awareness of the histories of minority communities in B.C. held a demonstration at New Westminster Secondary School on Saturday.
Society CEO Bill Chu invited people to the New West high school to mark the names of the people who were buried in the Douglas Road Cemetery on what is now the NWSS site between 1860 and 1920. The society is asking the government to reconsider building the replacement secondary school on the existing site, alleging construction would be disrespectful to the former burial grounds.
New Westminster school district superintendent Pat Duncan, however, is adamant nothing will be built over any known or suspected burial grounds.
