The Canadian flag at the Peace Tower in Ottawa was lowered to half-mast on Sunday, following the discovery of the bodies of 215 children at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.
The Department of Canadian Heritage said flags at all federal buildings and establishments across Canada would be lowered until further notice “in memory of the thousands of children who were sent to residential schools, for those who never returned and in honour of the families whose lives were forever changed.”
Flags across the country have also been lowered or will be lowered in honour of the children — including at the British Columbia and Manitoba legislatures as well as in Montreal, Edmonton and across much of Ontario.
A National Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. Emotional and crisis referral services can be accessed by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866 925-4419.