File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Two & Out

PETERS: If Walt Cobb values Williams Lake’s relationship with its Indigenous hosts, he should resign

Nov 5, 2021 | 10:58 AM

IT’S A SCENARIO FAMILIAR TO MANY OF US.

Your grandfather or elderly uncle starts spouting off at the Thanksgiving table about all that is wrong with the world these days.

They start to take a trip down memory lane while the younger generations sit quietly, roll their eyes and try to wait it out.

It’s all relatively harmless until the toxic attitudes toward people and groups that permeated those olden days creep back into today’s conversation. It’s almost inevitable.

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That’s when those children or grandchildren who don’t wish to absorb that toxicity will typically either leave the room or put the older generation on blast. Prejudiced attitudes need to remain in the past.

One of those who apparently needs to be tuned in to the year 2021 is the mayor of Williams Lake.

With a shared Facebook post, Walt Cobb decided to point out the supposed benefits of residential schools last week. Kind of like pointing out, “At least the Nazis made the trains run on time.”

Cobb was called out swiftly and the back-pedalling came fast and furious.

He deleted the post and tried to explain it was done privately, not on his official mayoral Facebook feed.

For most, and especially the Indigenous communities trying to forge relationships with the City of Williams Lake, it doesn’t matter.

Social media posts provide a window to your way of thinking. There is no argument about playing devil’s advocate; if you share something, you may as well have written it yourself.

The timing is particularly maddening in the interests of a positive relationship between Williams Lake and nearby First Nations.

Ground-penetrating radar work got underway in late August, in an effort to pinpoint the location of unmarked graves around the former St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School.

It wasn’t the first time Cobb has crossed the line and, if past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour, it won’t be the last.

Cobb says he won’t step down and intends to run for mayor again next fall when British Columbians go back to the polls in municipal elections.

If Williams Lake residents value their relationship with their Indigenous hosts, they will not cast votes for Cobb.

If Cobb values that relationship, he will step down before then.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.