Edmonton to Host National Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Event
By Gordon Kent
Edmonton will host the final national event in March for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission dealing with Canada’s residential schools legacy. The March 27-30 event, open to the public at the Shaw Conference Centre, is expected to attract up to 4,000 people a day to learn about the history of the schools, talk about their experiences and take part in cultural activities. “It’s almost the start of reconciliation … It’s not the end of it,” commissioner Willie Littlechild told the city’s community services committee Monday. Alberta had about 25 residential schools, more than any other province. They operated in Canada from the 1870s to 1996, Littlechild said. There are about 12,000 survivors living in the province, the largest proportion of them in Edmonton, he said. “It’s an opportunity to many to begin their healing journey,” said the former Conservative MP, who spent more than a decade in the residential school system. “Every citizen of Canada is affected by this history.” The committee recommended Edmonton contribute $250,000 in cash and services to the event’s $2-million budget, which city council will vote on next week. The city, which put in a bid about three years ago, was chosen as host for the Alberta national event over Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Grande Prairie, Littlechild said. Mayor Don Iveson called it an “extraordinary opportunity” to hear about aboriginal history and begin the process of reconciliation. The six other Canadian cities that hosted the previous national events contributed to their cost, he said. “This is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It arises from some fairly horrific historical circumstances; however, this is about learning from that and where we go as a community,” he said. “We still have a phenomenal amount of work to do. This is a step. It may be symbolic, but sometimes symbolism is very, very important.” About 150,000 aboriginal children were sent by the federal government over decades to church-run schools, where many faced physical and sexual abuse. A lawsuit against the federal government and churches resulted in a settlement that included payments to those affected and creation of the commission in 2008. Its job is to hold public hearings so people can tell their stories, collect records and establish a national research centre. Contact: gkent@edmontonjournal.com
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