On June 4, Chantel Moore was fatally shot by police in New Brunswick. She was born in Tofino, in the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation area on Vancouver Island. Her tragic and untimely death, like so many others, puts into sharp relief the pain of racialized people in our country. It is part of a deeply entrenched legacy that spans the continent and beyond. In the U.S, long-standing grievances erupted after the horrific killing of a Black American, George Floyd, by a white police officer on May 25. The turmoil demands that we reflect on the pervasive nature of inequity and its devastating consequences. It also reminds us of our own failings and of the critical need to do better.
Quest sits on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) peoples. As such, we are part of the legacy that we decry. We need to be part of the solution. We welcome individuals of every background to our university, and we believe diversity is essential to a sound education and to becoming moral global citizens and stewards of the future.
We hereby commit to fostering a place that is safe for all persons, where every individual is afforded dignity, love, and respect. We unequivocally reject racism in all its forms. We stand in solidarity with those who suffer from oppression, and with the victims of racist brutality, from George Floyd to the countless others who have been killed or otherwise harmed. We condemn all those who target vulnerable people and abuse their power. And we vow to be better as we steer our university toward a more just and equitable future.
Yours in peace,
George Iwama
President and Vice-Chancellor
Quest University