Miway briefly pausing transit service in Mississauga following discovery of bodies of Indigenous children

MiWay has announced it will be pausing service on Tuesday (June 1) for a moment of reflection following the discovery of the bodies of over 200 Indigenous children.

The city recently announced that at 2:15 p.m., the Mississauga transportation service will be pausing for two minutes in honour and remembrance of the 215 dead children discovered at the former site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, as well as all the Indigenous lives that were lost to the residential school system.

The children were part of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, some of whom were as young as three years old.

June 1 marks the beginning of National Indigenous History Month, which features events intended to honour the history, heritage, and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada. It is also an opportunity to recognize the strength of present-day Indigenous communities.

While many Canadians incorrectly believe residential schools are a thing of the distant past, that’s not the case—the Kamloops Indian Residential School was established in 1890, but remained operational until 1969 when it was taken over from the Catholic Church by the federal government and continued for another nine years as a day school residence until it was ultimately closed in 1978.

Additionally, the last residential school in Canada didn’t close until November of 1996—less than 30 years ago.