The following is a statement from Mayor Kennedy Stewart regarding the wrongful handcuffing and detention of Justice Selwyn Romilly.

I am appalled by how Vancouver Police officers wrongfully detained and handcuffed retired Justice Selwyn Romilly. Such incidents are unacceptable and cannot continue to happen. Last night, I reached out to Justice Romilly to apologize after I was made aware of the situation.

This is not something anyone should be forced to go through. Incidents like this can be a very damaging experience, especially for those in the Indigenous, Black, and Person of Colour communities who already face multiple barriers and discrimination.

As someone who continues to benefit from colonialism, I recognize my privilege and how this impacts the way I live and navigate through our systems of government and everyday life.

I have contacted Chief Palmer and Vancouver Police Board members to inform them of my views and actions. The Board will review this incident at the next available opportunity.

"I want to say again, all of our institutions are based on colonialism and as such, are systemically racist. This includes the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Police Department. We must continue to acknowledge this reality and do our best to combat racism — especially in our government institutions."