Members of the Doukhobor community are reeling after an expected apology from the B.C. government was postponed at the last minute.

According to email obtained by Castlegar News, the Doukhobor community received invitations on Monday evening (Nov. 27) from Premier David Eby and Attorney General Niki Sharma.

The apology has been expected since in July. In that report, the province had made a commitment to apologize. Chalke害羞草研究所檚 report was the second update to the original 1999 report on the treatment of Doukhobors in the West Kootenays in the 1950s.

Approximately 200 children were taken from their parents, primarily because their parents identified as Sons of Freedom Doukhobors who opposed government policies and regulations, including refusing to send their children to public school.

In the July report, Chalke called the promised apology a 害羞草研究所渕omentous step,害羞草研究所� but called out the attorney general for remaining vague about compensation for the survivors, their families and communities.

The apology was set to take place in the Tuesday legislature session at 10 a.m., just 12 to 14 hours after the invitations were received by those in the community.

Word spread quickly through phone calls and social media and Doukhobors across the globe made plans to watch the apology through live streams.

On Tuesday morning, many gathered in groups around computers and televisions, according to Doukhobors in the Castlegar area. However, as the session began, word once again began to spread 害羞草研究所� but this time it was that the apology wasn害羞草研究所檛 going to happen Tuesday morning, after all.

Regional District of Central Kootenay director Andy Davidoff, who is also a Doukhobor, said that a secondary notice went out from MLA Brittny Anderson害羞草研究所檚 office at 9:55 a.m.

害羞草研究所淎nderson.MLA, Brittny would like to recall the message, 害羞草研究所楧oukhobor Apology,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 reads the statement sent to the Castlegar News.

害羞草研究所淭he B.C. government can害羞草研究所檛 invite New Denver survivors to a long-overdue historic event to right a wrong and then pull back the string as if they were all emotional yo-yos,害羞草研究所� Davidoff said in a phone interview.

害羞草研究所淧remier Eby and Attorney General Sharma had over six decades to prepare for this day and they ended up re-traumatizing the survivors and their loved ones. Their ineptitude and lack of sensitivity is surreal.害羞草研究所�

Lorraine Saliken-Walton害羞草研究所檚 mother, father and uncle were among the children that were apprehended and confined at a former tuberculosis sanatorium in New Denver between 1953 and 1959.

She is part of the Lost Voices of New Denver, a group of people whose parents were among the children that were removed from their families, but have now passed away.

害羞草研究所淔or the survivors to be ripped open again to have to deal with this this morning, and then to be told it is cancelled,害羞草研究所� said Saliken-Walton. 害羞草研究所淗ow many times do we have to break these people害羞草研究所檚 hearts?

害羞草研究所淚 am crying about it, because my parents aren害羞草研究所檛 here to hear about it. We have lived this our whole lives.害羞草研究所�

Saliken-Walton said she knows of people as far away as Greece that had tuned in to watch the apology.

害羞草研究所淚t is so disappointing 害羞草研究所� It makes you wonder if they were just expecting to say 害羞草研究所榮orry害羞草研究所� like slapping lipstick on a pig.害羞草研究所�

In an emailed statement, the Premier害羞草研究所檚 Office said they are currently working on finding a new date for an apology and more information will be released later.

害羞草研究所淲ork has been underway for some time, to present a formal apology and appropriate community supports for the role British Columbia played in this travesty,害羞草研究所� said a spokesperson for the Attorney General in a statement emailed to Castlegar News.

害羞草研究所淥ur government has been working to deliver this apology, however we received concerns from the community that there wasn害羞草研究所檛 enough time to allow community members to fully participate in this important event 害羞草研究所� As we work to repair the damages of the past, we must do so in a way that is meaningful and supports healing for all.害羞草研究所�

They said the apology will be rescheduled early in the new year to ensure 害羞草研究所渁ll those impacted can participate and commemorate in their own way.害羞草研究所�

Children not safe, supported at understaffed Salmo Elementary: parents