Comox Valley Regional District apologizes for damaging First Nation’s heritage sites [Video]

The Comox Valley Regional District is issuing an apology to the K’ómoks First Nation for damaging several of its Cultural Heritage Sites during the construction of the Denman Cross Island Trail.

The district said it “caused unnecessary harm” while carrying out work in the fall of 2023 that could have been prevented had the proper procedures been followed, according to a statement released Tuesday.

The project saw construction of a gravel trail on a 3.5-kilometre section of the Denman Trail, between Owl Crescent and the Gravelly Bay ferry terminal on East Road.

Over the past year, the Vancouver Island First Nation and district have been working together to investigate the damage and carry out restoration, with the district having found the damage to be a result of “internal process errors,” the statement said.

A restorative justice process, which “engages those involved in harmful events in dialogue about harm, reparation, accountability, …