In 2012 we, people from Lake Babine First Nation, signed statutory declarations about the abuse we suffered at the hands of John Furlong, our phys ed teacher at Immaculata School in 1969-70. Mr. Furlong sued the Georgia Straight and journalist Laura Robinson and effectively shut our voices down. Then he dropped his lawsuit which meant our voices were never heard in court. But the abuse happened and we need Canadians to support us in our quest for healing and truth.

In November 2015 we wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and asked him to remove John Furlong as chair of Own The Podium. Furlong is also the former CEO of the Vancouver Olympics and after the Games was appointed by Stephen Harper as chair of Own The Podium. We believe Justin Trudeau cares deeply about reconciliation and healing. Day school students often suffered the same abuse that residential students suffered. We had the same abusers often, but we were not included in the Truth & Reconciliation Hearings.

This is why we have asked the prime minister to remove Furlong from his position at Own The Podium, and that the government meet with us so there will be healing, real reconciliation and possible forgiveness. The government spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the Vancouver Olympics and it was hurtful to watch Furlong still being out there while we still carry our hurts within our lives.

Please support us by signing this petition, and help bring about reconciliation and healing for day students.