The Art of Reconciliation - Program History

2019 - In the Township of Esquimalt in March 2019, a large public art installation was proposed at the Esquimalt Town Square development by Aragon Properties. Local art therapist Debbie Douez and Tanya Claremont, Director of Management Services, from the Victoria Native Friendship Centre saw this project as an opportunity to physically embody reconciliation through the creation of public art.

Debbie and Tanya began community consultation and spoke with Mayor Barb Desjardins of the Township of Esquimalt. They then presented to Esquimalt council who approved to partner and support the project. From there, other consultants were brought together to share ideas, feedback and engage with the project.

Project Consultants

Tanya Clarmont, Project Stewart, Victoria Native Friendship Centre

Debbie Douez, Project Stewart, Art Therapist, Community Liaison

Shona Collison, Mental Health Advisor, Art Therapist, Victoria Native Friendship Centre

Mayor Barb Dejardins, Township of Esquimalt  

Jane Vermeulen, City Councilor , Township of Esquimalt 

Florence Dick, Songheese Nation 

Darlene Gait, Esquimalt Nation Artist 

Hayle Gallup, Indigenous Young Adult Representative, film maker, teacher

Tejas Collison Indigenous Young Adult Representative, artist

Gabrielle Fay, non-Indigenous Young Adult Representative, student 

Michelle Sealey, Township Community Arts Council 

Major Sam Seder, Base Commander, CFB Esquimalt 

Grant Keddie, Curator, Royal BC Museum 

Frederick Grouzet, Director, Centre for Youth and Society Wellbeing, University of Victoria

Mitzi Dean, MLA - Esquimalt - Metchosin

Luke Ramsay, Development Manager, Aragon Properties 

Morlene Tomlinson, Founder, Township Community Arts Council 

Ron Sandor, Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce 

Patrick Harriott, Metis Nation of Greater Victoria 

Barb Hulme, Metis Nation of Greater Victoria 

Keith Lindner, Victoria Police Department 

Vida Anderson-Wulf, MCFD 

Doug Bowen, Member, Anglican Church 

Zsuzsa Harsman, co-Chair Justice Team, Esquimalt United 

Danielle Smith, Base Commander Chief of Staff, CFB Esquimalt 

2019 - 2020 - Debbie, Tanya and other project contributors developed the concept of creating two sculptures designed by Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth and led by a professional Indigenous artist to represent the Lekwungen Territory. Florence Dick, from the Songhees Nation, offered the idea of creating house posts, a unique practice of the local Songhees and Esquimalt Nation. The house posts would pay tribute to the Indigenous families who lived in Esquimalt prior to its being settled.

Throughout the program, young participants would be trained in the rich cultural tradition of the Lekwungen people. The participants’ journey would be documented and their changing, evolving perspectives on reconciliation monitored as part of an arts-based research project in partnership with the University of Victoria. Artwork created by participants for the research project would also go on public display for the community to better understand how their attitudes towards reconciliation changed over time.  

2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic deeply impacted the feasibility of the Art of Reconciliation project and accompanying public celebrations. The project committee and consultants had to re-prioritize work and deal with the immediate needs of the crisis within their communities.

2021 - While the project was on hold, the University of Victoria received a Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant from the Government of Canada. The group re-convened and designed a program that could be safely implemented in a virtual capacity during COVID.

The latest program design will still represent embodied reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, and culminate in a public art exhibit to spark further dialogue in the community about reconciliation.