Vancouver Police To Issue Apology In Connection With The Arrest Of Indigenous Man And His Granddaughter

Vancouver Police will issue an apology Monday in connection with the arrest of an Indigenous man and his granddaughter outside a bank in 2019.

Members of the Vancouver Police Board are expected to attend an apology ceremony this morning for Maxwell Johnson and his 12-year-old granddaughter.

They were detained and handcuffed after trying to open a bank account for the girl at a downtown Vancouver Bank of Montreal branch.

Today's ceremony in Bella Coola is meant to mark the start of co-operation between the Vancouver Police board, the Heiltsuk Nation, and the Union of B-C Indian Chiefs, as part of initiatives under a settlement announced in September.

On Sunday, the Heiltsuk Nation issued a statement saying it's possible the two officers involved in the arrest won't be attending and the traditional ceremony can't happen unless those who caused harm are present.