Ceremonies in North Bay honour victims found buried at residential school in B.C.
The flags at city hall in North Bay were raised Tuesday afternoon after being at half-mast for 215 hours to honour the remains of children found at a residential school in Kamloops, B.C.
“I think right now what our community is looking for is healing,” said George Couchie, an Indigenous advocate and teacher.
“The number that have come up in the last couple weeks, didn’t surprise me. When I walked across some of the residential schools the last few years, I think the number is going to be around 50,000 by the time they’re finished. So this is part of the healing here.”
A ceremony was also held at Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption in the city’s downtown, where pairs of shoes placed on the church steps were honoured in a smudge ceremony.
“Smudging is a cleansing of the area. So we want to think good thoughts, say good thoughts,” said Couchie.
“The anger is part of the trauma, but it’s not going to help us move as a community. Really, it’s our youth that really need this support at this difficult time. So that’s why we came and supported the church.”
It’s been just more than a week since the 215 bodies were found. The Pope has yet to issue a formal apology, but the bishop for northern Ontario told CTV News it’s something that needs to be done.
“I’m very supportive of an apology,” said Thomas Dowd, Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie.
"I have no belief that (the Pope) knew anything about Kamloops back when it was happening. But that’s not the point. The point is you're a leader of a community that needs to go through a process of reconciliation, that needs to acknowledge our history."
Couchie said the horrific event will never be forgotten, but he said it is time to find a way forward.
“Those 215 young people have now gone on to the spirit world, they’re in a good place now,” he said.
“It’s about finding peace, and that’s what’s going to happen in our community.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.