B.C. city considering changing its name at local First Nations’ request – CTV News
March 4, 2022
A B.C. city on the Sunshine Coast is considering a name change after a local First Nation stated concerns about who the city may be named after.
Concerns about Powell River’s name come from the actions of Israel Powell, who was a superintendent of Indian affairs for B.C. in the late 1800s. In that role, Powell “pursued police meant to assimilate Indigenous Peoples into Canadian society,” a statement from the city said.
“This included the implementation of residential schools, banning of the potlatch, and removing ceremonial objects from communities,” the statement said. “The impacts of these policies, such as loss of land, language, culture, and family ties for Tla’amin people, are still felt today.”
