Halifax is set to reveal the 10 members of its advisory committee on the city’s controversial founder and how it commemorates Indigenous history on Thursday.
The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) announced the decision to reveal the members of its Edward Cornwallis advisory committee in a news release Wednesday.
READ MORE: Halifax church drops Cornwallis name, now known as New Horizons Baptist Church
The committee — officially known as the Special Advisory Committee on the Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and Commemoration of Indigenous History — will be made up of a panel of experts who will review and advise regional council regarding the commemoration of Cornwallis, and the use of his name on city assets, such as Cornwallis Park or Cornwallis Street.
Any final decision recommended by the advisory committee will have to go through regional council for approval.
Councillors voted last week to increase the size the committee to 10 members from eight, and increase the number of members appointed from a slate of nominations put forward by the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs to five from four.
WATCH: Crews remove controversial Cornwallis statue from Halifax park
A bronze statue of Cornwallis — which faced toward the mouth of Halifax Harbour since it was erected more than 85 years ago — was placed in storage in January, after council voted 12 to 4 to temporarily take the statue down until a permanent decision can be made.
Cornwallis is a disputed character, seen by some as a brave leader who founded Halifax, and by others as the impetus of the 1749 scalping proclamation against Mi’kmaq inhabitants.
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