The leader of a Catholic church in Lacombe has apologized to attendees at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission National Event (TRC).
Rev. Ken Forster renewed an apology the Lacombe Province of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate issued in 1991.
“The injury is still there, so it needs to be said again,” he explained.
“There's also a need to apologize for the specific personal damage that has been done, physical abuse, sexual abuse.”
Rev. Forster’s presentation was one of many public gestures at the four-day event, which has been offering residential school survivors a chance to have their stories heard.
Since the closing of the schools, apologies have been issued by churches involved and the federal government.
Rev. Foster said he hopes the event will help heal those who were hurt.
“Forgiveness is essential, I think, to this process and I'm just encouraged because I see so much of it.”
According to the TRC, Alberta had more residential schools than any other province in the country.
About 12,000 survivors live in the province.
The four-day TRC event will wrap up on Sunday.
With files from Sarah Richter
