The Greater Victoria Public Library was flooded with concerns from patrons about the decision to ban a book critical of the predominant “mass graves” residential schools narrative – but internal emails show staff being instructed to ignore and stonewall the public.
Earlier this year, True North reported that the GVPL was one of two BC libraries to ban the bestselling book “Grave Error: How the Media Misled Us (And the Truth About Residential Schools),” written by C.P. Champion and Tom Flanagan.
The book, published by True North and Dorchester Books last year, challenges the misleading narrative pushed by the legacy media and politicians that hundreds of graves were supposedly discovered at former residential school sites. To date, no human remains have been unearthed at any of the suspected “mass unmarked graves.” Additionally, the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation now uses the term “anomalies” rather than graves to describe its discovery at the Kamloops Residential School site.
Despite its popularity and alignment with the library’s stated policy of offering diverse viewpoints, the Victoria library refused to purchase the book. By early 2024, patrons had submitted at least 14 official purchase requests to GVPL, all of which were denied.
Emails obtained through a freedom of information request show how the GVPL ignored public outcry and stonewalled patrons who brought their censorship concerns to the library staff and administration.
Months worth of communications show a deluge of complaints from patrons who accused the library of censorship.
From the outset, the GVPL was accused of hypocrisy for banning the book. Its policy explicitly aims to “present as many points of view as possible” and to “resist calls for censorship.”
“The individual or group that decided to ban this book from the GVPL collection clearly reeks of serious hypocrisy…” wrote one unidentified complainant.
All names were redacted by the GVPL when it provided True North with nearly 1,500 pages of internal emails concerning the book.
Similar sentiments were echoed in dozens of emails, with one complainant declaring: “This is indeed censorship of the very worst kind.”
Library staff, however, appeared largely dismissive. By late February, one internal email suggested ignoring complaints altogether: “You no longer need to respond to the patron who is so passionate about having us purchase Grave Error.” Another email from March 6 remarked cynically, “Very sad that people are buying and reading this book. He says we are ignoring his emails. Maybe we are., but more likely it will be a long time before he gets a response.”
As public dissatisfaction grew, complaints poured in, ranging from personal emails to requests for board intervention. On March 18, a patron formally requested a public delegation before the library board to protest the ban. Yet, internal communications associated with the board suggest their focus was on minimizing engagement.
“Do we plan to simply listen to the presentation and not engage in debate?” one unidentified member asked ahead of the Mar. 26 meeting.
Even organizations skeptical of the book’s content weighed in against the ban.
“While we do not agree with many of the premises and claims in this book, we do not support its censorship or restriction from public libraries,” wrote one unidentified group in April.
Other libraries in the region, including West Vancouver, opted to carry the book, further fueling criticism of GVPL’s stance.
The GVPL did not respond to True North’s request for comment and clarification.
Behind the scenes, library staff grappled with mounting public backlash. Internal documents reveal complaints about the time and resources consumed by the controversy. “Grave Error took a LOT of staff time (and ongoing),” one employee wrote in April. Security protocols were even discussed for handling “distressing” interactions with patrons.
Perhaps most concerning is the library’s apparent fear-mongering. Instead of engaging in open discussion, emails hint at concerns about “difficult patrons” and even a “safety and security” meeting being held related to the book.
Adding insult to injury, on April 16, corporate communication instructed staff to engage a silent alarm and call security “when it becomes an issue of safety.” Examples of breaches of safety included strongly criticizing the organization and pressuring staff for continued service.
None of the internal emails and public communications provided to True North indicate that any of the complaints were harassment or threatening in nature.
Despite offers from patrons to donate copies of the book, the library remained firm in its decision not to include it in its collection. An April 14 internal memo instructed staff to avoid further engagement on the issue.
By May 2024, the situation remained unresolved, with the library rejecting all 14 formal purchase requests for the book.
