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
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.