This report draws attention to government’s inaction in issuing an unconditional apology and compensation to the approximately 200 children apprehended and confined at a former tuberculosis sanatorium in New Denver between 1953 and 1959. The children were taken from their parents, often under the cover of darkness, because their parents identified as Sons of Freedom Doukhobors and opposed government polices and regulations, including refusing to send their children to public school.
In 1999, the office investigated these events and found what happened to these children “unjust and oppressive.” We called on government to apologize and compensate those who, by then, were adults. In 2002, we repeated these calls. Finally, after 70 years since these events occurred and in response to this report, government has committed to apologizing this fall and to preparing a “recognition package”.