Mayor Kennedy Stewart is introducing a motion to rename Trutch Street in Kitsilano over the namesake’s history of oppressing and displacing Indigenous people in B.C.

Stewart said he’s spoken to leadership from the Musqueam Indian Band and fully supports the push to rename the street. “Joseph Trutch actively worked to marginalize Indigenous people and seize their lands,” Stewart said in a statement. “There have been calls to do this for at least a decade and it’s long past time to act.”

The mayor said he’ll be bringing forward his motion at the next city council meeting.

Joseph Trutch served as the province’s first lieutenant governor and as chief commissioner of lands and works, a role he used to dramatically reduce the size of Indigenous reserves.

Beginning in the 1860s, Trutch became involved in colonial politics, serving as the Chief Commissioner of Land and Works. Throughout his political career, Trutch was noted for his hostility to land claims by First Nations people, and demonstrated contempt for their concerns.

Last modified: June 3, 2021

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