Steps away from the flag raising ceremony, the coroners inquest into the death of a Indigenous woman began at the Capitol Theatre.
18-year old Jocelyn George died after being held in police cells in Port Alberni in 2016.
She had been brought to cells twice in one day for severe intoxication, and was airlifted to Victoria Hospital where she died of drug-induced heart failure due to the toxic effects of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Presiding coroner Margaret Janzen and a jury will hear evidence from 32 witnesses including police and paramedics.
The inquest is scheduled to last a week, and could result in recommendations on how to prevent similar deaths.
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