We are thrilled to announce the Indian Residential School Memorial Project's next phase.
The City is set to host a comprehensive two-stage design competition spanning the entire year of 2024. This competition aims to select an Indigenous lead designer for the Indian Residential School Memorial. Professional Indigenous artists are invited to participate either as design teams or individuals. By participating, you will have the opportunity to contribute to a significant memorial project and showcase your talent to a wide audience. The autumn 2022 public interaction garnered a wealth of memorial placement and design suggestions from IRS survivors, descendants, families, and community members. In May 2023, the Council and the community received a comprehensive What We Heard Report from this participation.
First, a Notice of Proposed Procurement announced this design competition and listed the assets and qualifications the prospective lead designer will need to succeed.
Two phases follow: 1) a Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) to identify Indigenous leadership, expertise, and capacity-demonstrating design teams, and 2) an RFP to ask the shortlisted teams to submit memorial design designs.
A panel of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous specialists will meticulously review the design proposals, ensuring a balanced perspective. The community, whose involvement is not just integral but paramount to this process, will have a significant say in the final decision. Once the winning design is unveiled in fall 2024, construction will commence in spring 2025, marking a significant milestone in the Indian Residential School Memorial Project.
According to a September 2023 partnership with Fort Calgary, the memorial will be built between the Bow and Elbow Rivers, a historically significant site for Indigenous Peoples. This location, steeped in our shared history and culture, will serve as a poignant reminder of our resilience and strength.
We encourage the community to stay updated and participate through the project website www.engage.calgary.ca/IRSmemorial.
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