‘A commitment to truth’: Siksika Nation artist Adrian Stimson to design Calgary residential school memorial

A rendering of artist Adrian Stimson's design concept The Wandering Spirit, Calgary's future Indian Residential School memorial.

Multidisciplinary artist Adrian Stimson has been selected to create the design concept for Calgary’s future Indian Residential School Memorial.

The city announced Thursday that an independent jury made up of Indigenous members including Elders and other technical experts, chose Stimson’s concept The Wandering Spirit, saying it best aligns with competition criteria, including cultural and community values, and honours the vision for the site.

The memorial will be built at The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland, described in a media release as “a space of historical acknowledgment, ceremony, and healing. It’s also intended as a lasting place for reflection, dialogue, and connection.”

“This memorial represents a commitment to truth, acting as a place of remembrance, and a call to action. It will stand as a permanent reminder of the children who never returned home, the survivors who carry deep scars, and the families and communities who continue to live with the intergenerational impacts of the residential school system,” said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek.

“I’m grateful to the Elders, survivors, and Indigenous leaders who have shaped this vision from the beginning. Their voices, teachings, and strength have guided this process — and will continue to guide us on the path of reconciliation. Through this memorial, we honour the past while also building a future grounded in respect, understanding, and shared healing.”

The significance of the memorial is tied to its location and the shared history it represents, the city said in a release.

“The Confluence has long been a place of connection and cultural meetings. This memorial will add another layer of meaning to that space, connecting past and present so that all Calgarians can come together to learn and heal,” said Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong. “It will help us recognize the complex history of this land, while creating a shared space that invites reflection and understanding for generations to come.”

Guided by Indigenous communities

The memorial project has been Indigenous-led from the beginning, with members of Indigenous communities taking the lead in shaping its vision.

“We are honoured to unveil a concept that reflects the voices of survivors, Elders, and community members,” said Harold Horsefall, an Indigenous strategist at the city’s Indigenous Relations Office.

“Every step of this process has centred Indigenous leadership and cultural teachings.”

The process started in fall 2024 with a request for pre-qualification, moving to a request for proposals which led to four Indigenous-led teams being shortlisted to submit final concepts.

Each submission reflected four shared pillars: healing, ceremony, truth and acknowledgement and was shaped by public feedback, as well as guidance from the IRSM Elders Advisory Council.

The other shortlisted finalists were:

• Niitsitapilsini -- Our Way of Life, presented by Two Row Architect and co-designers Brian Porter and Matt Hickey;
• Nitsinii’Pokaako’sa -- My Special Child, presented by Spectacle Bureau for Architecture and Jared Tailfeathers;
• Footsteps in the Firelight, presented by Tawaw Architecture Collective Inc. and Wanda Della Costa; and
• The Wandering Spirit, the winner, was presented by Ground3 Inc. (groundcubed) and Adrian Stimson.

Stimson works in a variety of media, including paintings, installations, performance and video. His paintings often feature bison and his installations contain references to experiences in the residential school system.

His work is part of the collection of the North American Indigenous collection at The British Museum, as well as The Glenbow Museum. He won the 2018 Governor-General’s Award for Visual and Media Arts.

“The memorial will bring healing, celebration, and honour to Indigenous communities and those who continue to suffer the impacts and imprints of residential schools,” said Otsskoipiiks’aakii Paula Smith, (Blackfoot Confederacy, Piikani Nation) who is the Indigenous relations manager at The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland.

“The land at the confluence was used by Fort Calgary to uphold the residential school system, but it has also been a significant place to Indigenous people since long before the North-West Mounted Police arrived here,” added Smith. “The chosen memorial design is meant to bring both these histories together towards a unified future.”

Next

The project will move into the detailed design phase before construction planning gets underway.

The city extended its deep gratitude to the IRSM Elders Advisory Circle, Elders, residential school survivors and their families, the four shortlisted design teams, The Confluence and community members who joined in the selection process.

“Through this memorial, we hope to foster understanding and connection for all Calgarians, now and for generations to come,” said Sherri Kellock, who is an Indigenous strategist at the City of Calgary.