Celebrations set to open Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park pavilion

The city and Lheidli T’enneh are marking the unveiling of Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park Pavilion with four days of activities and events, starting on National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), and continuing through to Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24).

Construction began on the new pavilion, replacing a well-used picnic shelter near The Exploration Place, last summer.

The pavilion, at a cost of almost $800,000, is being funded by the Government of Canada’s Canada 150 Infrastructure program (up to $377,000 matched by the city), the Province of British Columbia ($25,000 for a new monument), Northern Development Initiative Trust, and the city. It features a 182 square metre (nearly 2,000 square feet) cover and an expanded patio area.

In addition to the grand opening, visitors are invited to the pavilion to enjoy music, public art, theatre, and storytelling. Events will be appropriate for children and families, and aimed at fostering intercultural understanding and greater community pride. The event web page at www.pavilion2018.ca has a full itinerary.

In 2015, the City of Prince George changed the name of Fort George Park to Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park to acknowledge Lheidli T’enneh traditional territory and the presence of a village that once existed in this area. The name change also indicated a modern relationship and committed partnership between the City and the Lheidli T’enneh.

The pavilion is located at the centre of an area that is also popular with families, making it a place for picnics, family gatherings, performances, and other events. The structure and landscaping are designed to enable these various activities and are a reflection of the landscape, including the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako Rivers. In fact, Lheidli T’enneh means “People where the rivers flow together.”