Furlong speaks at UBC event after originally having appearance cancelled
Posted February 28, 2017 7:00 am.
Last Updated February 28, 2017 9:50 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A handful of protesters were on hand this morning as former VANOC boss John Furlong spoke at the annual UBC Millennium Scholarship Breakfast. Furlong was initially dumped from the event before the school invited him back.
He was expected to share the stage with the school’s president who had to apologize for initially cancelling Furlong’s speech. That was back in January when UBC President Santa Ono said sorry for the school axing Furlong’s appearance.
The announcement happened in late December and the former VANOC head was said to be deeply hurt and embarrassed by the move.
Today, Furlong will get a chance to speak at the event, which raises money for student-athletes.
The school had previously cancelled the keynote address after a graduate of the school circulated an open letter that was critical of him. Glynnis Kirchmeier, an activist who has slammed the university’s handling of campus sexual assaults, said that inviting Furlong to speak was at odds with UBC’s commitment to reconciliation with First Nations people.
Furlong has steadfastly denied allegations in a 2012 newspaper article that he beat and taunted First Nations children while teaching at a northern BC school in 1969 and 1970.
