St. Albert public schools recognize residential school victims with Orange Shirt Day
Normally recognized on Sept. 30, Orange Shirt Day is Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
With recent events surrounding the 215 children whose remains were located near Kamloops Residential School last weekend, St. Albert Public schools decided to hold another day to recognize those who suffered.
“Part of it is to keep that conversation going,” Joseph M. Demko assistant principal Monique Waters told CTV.
“We want others to know that we want to remember what’s happened in our history and so our district as whole has decided that this is one small way that we can honour that trauma and honour those that continue to experience trauma from the history of the residential schools in Canada.”
Students at Joseph M. Demko school took part in activities like chalk art, planting an Indigenous Three Sisters Garden, and making peace poles that will be decorated with 215 hand prints.
“Even myself being older I didn’t learn a lot of this in school, it’s only been as an educator in the last few years that I’ve become far more educated about the history of our own country and so I think that is a starting point.”
Contact the Indian Residential School Survivors Society toll-free 1 (800) 721-0066 or 24-hour Crisis Line 1 (866) 925-4419 if you require further emotional support or assistance.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
3 law officers serving warrant are killed, 5 wounded in shootout at North Carolina home, police say
Three officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday at a North Carolina home, police said.
'Shocked and concerned': Calgary principal charged with possession of child pornography
A Calgary elementary school principal has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities announced Monday.
Health authority confirms cockroaches at B.C. hospital, insists they 'do not bite'
The Vancouver Island Health Authority is downplaying what staff describe as a cockroach infestation in a medical unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
Toronto police arrest 12 people, lay 102 charges in major credit card fraud scheme
Toronto police say 12 people are facing a combined 102 charges in connection with an investigation into a major credit fraud scheme.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Britney and Jamie Spears settlement avoids long, potentially ugly and revealing trial
Britney Spears and her father Jamie Spears will avoid what could have been a long, ugly and revealing trial with a settlement of the lingering issues in the court conservatorship that controlled her life and financial decisions for nearly 14 years.
WATCH 'Double whammy': What happens if you don't file your taxes by the deadline
The clock is ticking ahead of the deadline to file a 2023 income tax return. A personal finance expert explains why you should get them done -- even if you owe more than you can pay.