Our Reconciliation journey formally began in 2013 with the Year of Reconciliation, followed by the Reconciliation Framework PDF file (150 KB) passed by City Council in 2014. The City acknowledges that our Reconciliation efforts should have begun earlier, and that there is still much work to do.
Before Reconciliation, there must first be truth. Every settler and newcomer to this territory has a responsibility to learn the truth of the history and ongoing impacts of colonialism and cultural genocide on Indigenous peoples and communities. We encourage everyone to use the resources on these webpages and other public sites to educate yourself and to take actions to advance Reconciliation.
Trutch Street renaming: šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm
We are honoured to have been gifted the šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm (Musqueamview Street) name on September 30, 2022, from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band). The work of this renaming project is an act of Reconciliation and it is important to us that we do this work in a good way, in collaboration with our partners from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm.
Since the renaming ceremony, we have been working closely with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm on many elements of this project, including the street sign design, a shared story about how we talk about the colonial history of Joseph Trutch, and a date for when the new street name šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm will take effect.
This work will include:
- Pronunciation support and notification for local residents and businesses regarding steps they will need to take to change their address
- The installation of new street signage
If you are a current resident of Trutch Street, wait for further instruction, and do not change your address just yet. More information will be delivered to local residents and updated online as this work progresses.
Follow our milestones
Open the boxes for details on the events.
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2021 to present
- January 24, 2024: City Council approved the ʔəy̓alməxw/Iy̓álmexw/Jericho Lands Policy Statement
- June 27, 2023: WA IY̓ÍM TA SḴWX̱WÚ7MESH PROTOCOL provides guidance on how the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and the City will engage in advancing Reconciliation
- October 25, 2022: Council approves groundbreaking UNDRIP strategy for Vancouver
- May 25, 2022: Sen̓áḵw Services Agreement signed Squamish Nation to provide municipal services that are needed to support the Sen̓áḵw Development
- February 1, 2022: Agreement signed with COC and CPC to officially explore hosting 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
- December 10, 2021: Four First Nations, Vancouver and Whistler sign MOU to explore feasibility of hosting 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
- September 30, 2021: First National Day for Truth and Reconciliation observed by Vancouver as a municipal holiday
- March 2021: City Council created the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) Task Force, in partnership with the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation
- February 2021: Vancouver first municipality in Canada to adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
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2016 to 2020
- January 20, 2020: Vancouver, UBC, and the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Development Corporation sign MOU to advocate for SkyTrain to UBC
- May 2019: City Council passed a motion to officially recognize 2019 as the Year of Indigenous Languages in Vancouver, and to work collaboratively to create more visibility for hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh
- October 16, 2018: Parcel of land in Marpole returned to the Musqueam Indian Band
- June 18, 2018: Two prominent public spaces in downtown given names in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and skqxwu7mesh
- March 19, 2018: Saa’ust Centre opened as a space supporting families and survivors affected by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
- 2017: Canada's 150th anniversary marked in Vancouver with Vancouver Commemorates Canada 150+
- 2016: MOU signed with Metro Vancouver Urban Aboriginal Executive Council to work together to address unique needs of urban Indigenous peoples
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2010 to 2015
- July 8, 2014: Reconciliation Framework adopted by City Council
- 2014: Vancouver declared a City of Reconciliation and declaration issued acknowledging Vancouver located on unceded territories
- 2013: Year of Reconciliation declared in Vancouver