The City of White Rock鈥檚 plans to launch its much-touted Memorial Park upgrades ground to a halt before the event could begin Thursday, following a tense confrontation between Semiahmoo First Nation and city officials.
As invited dignitaries gathered, Mayor Wayne Baldwin 鈥� a cease-and-desist order in hand from SFN Chief Harley Chappell 鈥� called off the waterfront groundbreaking ceremony.
鈥淲e will cease right now, we will pack this up, we will get this straightened away and we will continue on with the project,鈥� Baldwin told Chappell.
The mayor added the confrontation 鈥渋s not making our relations any better, I can tell you that right now.鈥�
Chappell attended the site accompanied by SFN councillors Joanne Charles and Roxanne Charles after learning Wednesday afternoon of the by-invitation groundbreaking plans through the Peace Arch News website. En route, he told PAN that no one from the band had been consulted about the $4.5-million plans for the park, which is on traditional SFN land. They were also not invited to the morning鈥檚 festivities.
鈥淚 knew nothing of it,鈥� Chappell said.
He described the site as a potential ancient burial ground, and the city鈥檚 process to date as 鈥� to their community and their neighbours.鈥�
鈥淥bviously we have huge concerns when it comes to the archeological site that it鈥檚 on.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to have a conversation with Mayor (Wayne) Baldwin before I get there. It鈥檚 obviously not going to be resolved today, but I think only out of respect, until the proper protocols are followed, work is halted.鈥�
At the scene, Chappell told city manager Dan Bottrill that the situation 鈥� of no consultation with the band regarding the park, as well as ongoing issues of contention 鈥� was 鈥減reposterous.鈥�
鈥淵ou have a responsibility as a municipality to consult with local community, you have a responsibility to the Heritage Act to ensure that proper permits and protocol are done for historical areas, high-potential areas.
鈥淚鈥檓 troubled.鈥�
The city issued a 鈥渕edia advisory鈥� last Friday regarding the . The launch was to kick off an approximately 鈥� that includes a new design, new washrooms, expanded concert and performance area, improved all-abilities access, and more 鈥� that was announced on a smaller scale in February 2016.
鈥淚t started with a simple plan and ended up with something fantastic,鈥� engineering and municipal operations director Greg St. Louis 鈥� who has since left his post with the city 鈥� told council at their July 24 meeting.
The Sept. 8 advisory notes that the work was 鈥渁pproved by council following public consultation and feedback.鈥�
In a post to PAN鈥檚 Facebook page Wednesday evening, responding to the story detailing the groundbreaking, Chappell notes the city also does not have the necessary archeological permits to proceed.
鈥淭he project, which is to include a bigger footprint than the existing park, is situated on a key and sensitive archeological site of one of our nation鈥檚 ancient villages and may very well include remains of our long passed ancestors,鈥� he writes. 鈥淲e find this disrespectful to us, and our ancestors in every way.鈥�
鈥溾�e demand the city cease and desist until meaningful dialogue and consultation has been completed.鈥�
Chappell confirmed to PAN that the matter goes beyond this one issue; and is tied to ongoing tension between the band and the city. The band will not consider agreeing to permits 鈥渦ntil we sit and have proper conversation and proper discussion about several issues we have with the City of White Rock,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ne of the only weights that we have is being able to hold the City of White Rock to some honour and respect to the area that they live in and have jurisdiction over.鈥�
During Thursday鈥檚 confrontation 鈥� which RCMP officers monitored from a respectful distance 鈥� the issue of White Rock next February to the SFN reserve arose, as Chappell pointed to areas of 鈥渄isconnect鈥� between the two communities.
Baldwin told Chappell the water issue 鈥渨as of your doing.鈥�
鈥淵ou initiated it, we just followed through on it,鈥� Baldwin said, referring to a meeting between the two sides.
He cut off Roxanne Charles when she interjected.
鈥淩oxanne, you weren鈥檛 there,鈥� Baldwin said. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 speak to it firsthand because you were not there.鈥�
The confrontation ended with Baldwin 鈥� following comment from Chappell about unsuccessful efforts to have the two sides meet 鈥� suggesting an immediate council-to-council meeting at city hall, the results of which were not available by PAN鈥檚 press time.
