Councillor Kiersten L Duncan
11995 Haney Place V2X 6A9 Maple Ridge, BC, Canada

Good Evening, Everyone, It has been brought to my attention that there is a video of me being shared online where I am looking very tired during tonight's council meeting. I want to first start by thanking those that reached out to ask if I was okay. The answer is yes, but I am very overtired and stressed. Last night I was admitted to the hospital at 3:00am because I was experiencing chest pain and did not get home until late morning at which point my focus was to finish pre...pping for the Workshop Meeting. I spent the rest of the day preparing for Council and trying to get a little sleep but the pain in my chest has made it very difficult to get any restful sleep. I sincerely apologize for being overtired tonight and will do my best to rest up so I'm strong and revitalized for the next meetings. Thank you again for your concern, compassion, and understanding. As always I greatly appreciate your support. See more

"Would you like to take a Poppy?" I strongly believe that as an elected official it's my duty to represent veterans in my community and give back to the community in any way I can. Veterans need our support now more than ever so I feel it is especially important that as a leader in the community I set a good example to others. I enjoy spending time volunteering with seniors to support their Poppy Program and want to encourage other members of Council and residents in the com...munity to become involved and volunteer at the Poppy table just as I have. This isn't the first time I've done this job having volunteered in previous years, but it's the first time I felt that some people didn't care about the program. I almost never had to ask a senior if they wanted a Poppy because they were almost always already proudly wearing one. All the seniors I met also had a story to tell that connected them to the war somehow. I learned that seniors understand the impacts of war so much better than some people my age and care so much deeper and have a much better understanding of what war really means. Most people I came across that were my age (young adults with children) and youth didn't show that level of compassion. I was stunned the first time I was blatantly ignored when asking "would you like to take a Poppy?" Politely turning me down I expected but to be blatantly ignored? No, that was not okay. Did this happen to the senior Veterans that had sat at the table on the shift before me? I could only hope not. It makes me embarrassed because I know how much myself, my friends, and my family care. I know people of my generation care and people of my generation have served too. But I now fear that if parents don't instill in their children at an early age the importance of the Poppy and the reason we take time to Remember on November 11th the impact of this day will begin to slip away. So I ask you, please consider teaching your children about the meaning behind Remembrance Day and make sure they understand why it's so important that we remember every year, every November, on the 11th day at the 11th hour. Nov. 11th, 2020. Thank you.

Hello Everyone! Here are the links to both the paper agendas & videos of today's Council Meetings. Enjoy! (Edit: You may not see me for a little while in one of the videos because I was having technical difficulties). Special Council Workshop Meeting Paper Agenda: https://www.mapleridge.ca/AgendaCen//Agenda/_11032020-3525... Special Council Workshop Meeting Video: http://media.mapleridge.ca//9ee11255ab6b4eb59ad9b47d8bdacd Committee of the Whole (COW) Meeting Paper Agenda: https://www.mapleridge.ca/AgendaCen//Agenda/_11032020-3524 Committee of the Whole (COW) Meeting Video: http://media.mapleridge.ca//b61e9464e0114a0e9ce1c703f42a3e Special Council Meeting Paper Agenda: https://www.mapleridge.ca/AgendaCen//Agenda/_11032020-3527 Closed Council Meeting Paper Agenda: https://www.mapleridge.ca/AgendaCen//Agenda/_11032020-3526 See more

"But Maple Ridge City Councillor Kiersten Duncan said that while she understands the creators may have meant no harm, she’s heard from residents who are interpreting it differently. Many people have said that they feel it depicts a lynching and they feel it’s culturally and racially insensitive, she said. The debate over the decorations erupted on social media, including Facebook, ahead of Halloween. Duncan said she knows that some community members see it as harmless... Halloween fun, but she empathizes with those for whom the display brings up painful feelings. It might also require families to have difficult conversations with kids who might not be old enough to understand what they’re seeing. Halloween should be safe for everyone regardless of race or ethnicity or religion, or sex or gender identity, she said. Historically, and particularly in the United States, lynchings have included the hanging death of Black people at the hands of a white mob. Meier said it disgusts him that anyone would suggest his display is racist without speaking to him about his intentions first. Duncan said she intends to meet with the creators to talk to them about how the decorations are being understood by community members and said she feels the display isn’t age-appropriate. I think it's important for residents to really consider families when they're decorating because that's who you're decorating for on Halloween, it’s for families and young trick or treaters, she said. Duncan said she looks forward to hearing from and speaking with community members who are people of colour. I think their voice is very important on this issue, and it needs to be heard, and it needs to be valued, she said." Article: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/halloween-display-of-dummies-hanging-

"Maple Ridge Coun. Kiersten Duncan, responded to the post on Twitter, calling the display disturbing. When I first saw it, I did think it was a bit shocking. I think it’s a little far for a Halloween display, she tells NEWS 1130. While Duncan says she finds it inappropriate, she doesn’t believe the intention behind it is depicting a lynching. I think it’s what many members of the public are perceiving it to be. I believe that’s why many people are upset about it and unde...rstandably so, and this is a very challenging time, she says. I don’t believe the intentions are racist by the people that created this display. Duncan says she will be taking it seriously and speaking to the mayor and city council about the situation. She also wants to speak with the homeowner, because I do think it’s important to address residents’ concerns. I would love to hear further from people in the community, particularly people of colour, about how they feel about this display, she adds. Duncan says she welcomes the discussion about mental health and race in the community while making sure we’re not depicting things that are inappropriate or cultural or racially insensitive. She says she supports people trying to monitor this. You have to really consider families when you’re decorating outdoors and you have to think about the young children you are going to be trick-or-treating and I think a display like that is very mature and can be a bit jarring, she says." https://www.citynews1130.com//maple-ridge-mother-neighbor/