A four-day event to give survivors of residential schools the chance to share their stories kicked off in downtown Edmonton Thursday morning with thousands in attendance.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission National Event started early Thursday morning at the Shaw Conference Centre with an opening ceremony, the ceremony was followed by a number of other events throughout the day, including sharing circles and panels.

Ahead of Thursday’s ceremony, Mayor Don Iveson declared the next year as “A Year of Reconciliation”.

Later Thursday, an official with the event told CTV News that 8,000 people attended the first day of the event – with a total of 200 people registered to speak so far, and 1,600 survivors registered as of 3 p.m.

In addition, 70 statements had been given either publicly, privately or during circles.

Among the crowds in attendance Thursday were 2,200 students, there to learn about residential schools and what the survivors dealt with.

“[I was] quite surprised,” Grade 9 student Emma Huyser-Wierenga said. “I didn’t know that it had so many long lasting effects, and impacted so many people.”

Alberta had more Residential Schools than any other province – about 12,000 survivors live in the province, with most of them living in Edmonton.

Officials said Edmonton was chosen as the host city for the seventh and final event of this kind, in recognition of the role the province played in the Residential School system.

After the last schools closed, formal apologies followed from churches that were involved in running the facilities, and the federal government.

Each of the events have had their own theme, ‘wisdom’ has been selected as the theme for the four day event.

Traffic disruptions during event

A day before the event was set to start, the city released a series of closures and changes that will affect traffic in the area throughout the event.

Sunday, March 30:

  • Jasper Avenue between 95 Street and 108 Street closed in stages – between 4 and 11 p.m. – closure set to allow Walk of Reconciliation from the Shaw Conference Centre to the Legislature
  • Drivers asked to use 103 A Avenue and 104 Avenue

More information on the Truth and Reconciliation National Event can be found online.

The event will continue until March 30.

With files from Veronica Jubinville