Community engagement to determine future of Queen Victoria statue set to begin

The City of Kitchener is inviting the community to discuss the future of the statue of Queen Victoria at Victoria Park.

The city has partnered with Jay Pitter Placemakingto lead the process anddevelop a community engagement strategy, public education, as well as co-develop a staff report with recommendations to guide the future of the statue.

"The process will provide opportunities for the community to provide input while prioritizing the voices of Indigenous, Black, and racialized community member," the city said in a release Tuesday.

In June,city council voted to proceed with recommendations to seek public input to determine thefuture of the statue, which has been splattered with red paint and the subject ofcriticism forits harm to Indigenous people.

"Having led projects and conducted extensive research related to historically fraught sites and symbols, I understand that there is no single solution or right approach," Pitter said in a release.

"My goal is to create space for local knowledge to be centred, respectfully listen to diverse perspectives that build our capacity, and equally important, compassion."

Pitter hasled sessions on other highly contentious projects, including Confederate monument sites, sites of gender-based violence, and sites impacted by gun violence and locations involving Indigenous burial grounds.

"These kinds of processes are inherently uncomfortable, evoking a complex range of emotions. However, discomfort is also the precursor to growth and positive transformation," she said.

Several online and in-person sessions are scheduled for between November and February. Pitter will host alive session on Nov.1from noon to 1 p.m. ET on the city's Instagram page.