Media advisory - Montréal, Quebec

Montréal, Quebec, June 2, 2021—The Samuel De Champlain Bridge will be lit up in shades of purple and orange tonight from sunset until 10 p.m. in memory of the 215 Indigenous children whose remains were discovered near the Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia.

“Tonight’s illumination of the Samuel de Champlain Bridge is to honour the children who never made it home from residential schools, their families and the survivors. We must acknowledge the devastating impacts of past wrongs, including of residential schools, while also discovering and honouring the rich cultures and lived experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.”

—The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

A National Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available for those affected by the residential school system. Trained crisis counsellors can be reached 24/7 by calling : 1-866-925-4419.

Note: After 10 p.m., the architectural lighting will return to the blue green illumination that is in use during the birds’ migratory period, which runs until June 15.