On Saturday, April 1^st, a number of us from Coast Funds attended a ceremony held at UBC’s Main Mall to witness a truly unforgettable event: the raising of the Reconciliation Pole.

Carved from an 800-year-old red cedar tree by acclaimed Haida artist 7idansuu “Edenshaw” James Hart, this 17-meter-tall work of art stands as a towering reminder of the resilience of the indigenous peoples who survived the residential school experience – as well as the irreplaceable loss of the many thousands of indigenous children that didn’t. The masterful design of this pole and the love and sweat of so many who contributed to its emergence makes it a sight to behold, today and for generations to come.

Some wonderful CBC coverage of the pole raising can be found here.