British Columbia Minister of Children and Family Development issues apology to former residents of Woodlands

2003. Gordon Hogg, the British Columbian Minister of Children and Family Development, issued a formal apology to former residents of Woodlands and three other institutions in Victoria, Kamloops, and Creston on behalf of the British Columbia government (CBC, 2003).

Allegations of abuse from many residents of these institutions were made, up to 50 years before the apology was granted. However, the apology extended only to acknowledgement of harm caused by time in the institution, not of abuse (CBC, 2003). Institutions were historically used as places to segregate people considered "feeble-minded" or mentally ill. A class action lawsuit was filed against the British Columbia government by families of former Woodlands residents (CBC,2003).

Hogg also set up a two million dollar trust fund to support former residents and their families through counselling (CBC, 2003). However, the British Columbia Association for Community Living and many family members of former residents believed at the time that these measures were not enough to address harm caused to former residents at these institutions (CBC, 2003).

-Erna Kurbegovic and Colette Leung

British Columbia Minister of Children and Family Development issues apology to former residents of Woodlands

2003. Gordon Hogg, the British Columbian Minister of Children and Family Development, issued a formal apology to former residents of Woodlands and three other institutions in Victoria, Kamloops, and Creston on behalf of the British Columbia government (CBC, 2003).

Allegations of abuse from many residents of these institutions were made, up to 50 years before the apology was granted. However, the apology extended only to acknowledgement of harm caused by time in the institution, not of abuse (CBC, 2003). Institutions were historically used as places to segregate people considered "feeble-minded" or mentally ill. A class action lawsuit was filed against the British Columbia government by families of former Woodlands residents (CBC,2003).

Hogg also set up a two million dollar trust fund to support former residents and their families through counselling (CBC, 2003). However, the British Columbia Association for Community Living and many family members of former residents believed at the time that these measures were not enough to address harm caused to former residents at these institutions (CBC, 2003).

-Erna Kurbegovic and Colette Leung