Photo courtesy of Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

Flags across Chatham-Kent are at half-mast today in honour of the 215 residential school children found in an unmarked mass grave near Kamloops, BC.

Mayor Darrin Canniff issued a statement this morning, calling the deaths a national tragedy, and calling on the federal government to move forward with an investigation.

“The deaths of these children is a national tragedy,” Canniff says. “While the federal government must proceed with the investigation, it is important now for all of us to acknowledge the innocent young lives lost.”

Flags in Chatham-Kent will remain lowered for 215 hours, until June 9th, to mark one hour for each of the victims.