Queen Victoria Statue Initiative

In response to community concerns and growing awareness about the legacy of place names and symbols, Kitchener City Council directed staff to prioritize an “equity-driven process” including a public education component exploring the history and impacts of the Queen Victoria statue located in Victoria Park, and community engagement activities to unpack multiple perspectives and options related to its future. The process, as directed by Council, “will provide opportunities for the public at large to provide input while prioritizing the voices of Indigenous, Black and racialized community members.”

What we mean by prioritizing these voices – and other voices that have historically been excluded in major municipal discussions – is:

• intentionally connecting with community organizations that engage a diverse range of community stakeholders;
• creating respectful space for hearing and learning under-told historical perspectives;
• providing accommodations such as light meals, transit fare and child minding at all engagements; and,
• ensuring that individuals without access to online platforms have an opportunity to participate in the process.

Given the complexity of this conversation and overall process, the City continues to build on our expertise by participating in on-going professional development initiatives such as anti-Black racism training, Indigenous relationship and cultural awareness training, and understanding and adopting equitable and inclusive engagement practices. Like other leading municipalities, we are committed to building our professional capacity to better respond to the multiple histories, uses and relationships tethered to public spaces across the region.

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