Air quality advisories issued in 5 provinces, 1 territory
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
An unmarked burial ground at the former Kamloops, B.C. residential school set off a reckoning for Canadians about their country's history and relations with Indigenous Peoples, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday.
The prime minister made the comments following a memorial gathering in Kamloops to mark one year since the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc Nation announced a war graves expert detected the remains of up to 215 children at the former school site.
"It was a difficult year for survivors and their families," Trudeau said at an evening news conference. "It was a difficult year for Canadians as well. We have a long path ahead of us for reconciliation."
Trudeau acknowledged his presence at the ceremony created tensions among some people, but others "told me they were glad I was here."
He received a loud, stern reception during his attendance at a daylong memorial held at the nation's PowWow Arbor and attended by hundreds of people.
"This was an opportunity to come together, to talk about moving forward in partnership," Trudeau said.
Trudeau was followed by a large group of memorial attendees who chanted and pounded drums as he stopped in the stands, talking face-to-face with people and often exchanging hugs with others.
"We have so much more to do," Trudeau was overheard saying to an elderly woman who he spoke with and hugged.
Others did not appear as friendly, chanting, "Canada is all Indian land," and "We don't need your Constitution."
Trudeau told the crowd he hears their concerns.
"This is a moment for us to realize as great as Canada is as a country, we've made some terrible mistakes in the past," he said.
Earlier Monday, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon told the crowd the atrocities, the death, the loss and the silence of residential schools that Indigenous Peoples knew about for so long is now known by all.
“It’s unimaginable that a place of learning was so cruel. It’s inexcusable that people could commit these atrocities or that people could stand silent as they were committed," she said.
One year ago, the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation announced that the graves were detected using ground-penetrating radar at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
They are believed to hold the remains of up to 215 children who died at the school, a finding that led to the discovery of hundreds of other similar sites across the country and triggered a national reckoning on Canada's past and present relationship with Indigenous peoples.
Simon said while the unmarked graves of children found around residential schools in Canada have been called a discovery, for survivors it's the confirmation of First Nations experiences and knowledge passed down from generation to generation.
"It shouldn’t have taken that long, but finally people know," Simon said. "And knowing has transformed this community. People have made pilgrimages here to pay their respects, to say they’re sorry, to show their support."
Simon, who is the first Indigenous person in Canada to hold the office of Governor General, said many members of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc haven't had time to grieve and she hoped that Monday's event could contribute to their healing process.
"We mourn with you. We stand with you. We believe you," she said.
Tk'emlups te Secwepemc Chief or Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir told the crowd at the memorial that she hopes the events over the past year will lead to reconciliation for Indigenous Peoples.
"Non-Indigenous are now wanting to know about the real hidden history of this country. That we know is a good thing. Those conversations, as hard as they are, are going to lead to steps that we all need to make towards our collective history.”
Casimir was part of the delegation to the Vatican where the Pope apologized last month for the role of the Catholic Church in Canada's residential school system.
While she said she's disappointed the Pope will not be coming to Kamloops during a scheduled visit in July, she's pleased he'll be meeting with other Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Pope Francis will make stops in Edmonton, Quebec City and Iqaluit during his visit.
Trudeau faced widespread criticism last September when he did not attend national reconciliation day ceremonies in Kamloops.
Casimir told the memorial attendees Trudeau apologized for not coming to Kamloops last September.
"He owned that," she said. "He paid his regrets to our unmarked graves. I recognize that as a good start."
Kamloops school survivor John Jules said Monday's memorial was an inspiring event. Jules participated in a dance where he circled the powwow grounds with hundreds of people, young and old.
“It’s uplifting to have all our people together,” he said. “It brings healing for our people.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2022.
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
Hollywood actor Steve Buscemi has been treated for injuries after being punched in the face while walking in New York City.
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
For her latest column on CTVNews.ca, royal commentator Afua Hagan writes about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Nigeria, calling it a 'deeply meaningful campaign' that was about aligning their ongoing efforts to foster mental-health awareness and promoting the Invictus Games.
Ontario will need 33,200 more nurses and 50,853 more personal support workers by 2032, the government projects — figures it tried to keep secret but were obtained by The Canadian Press.
Whether you were lucky to nab tickets to one of Taylor Swift's six sold-out Toronto concerts in November or not, a new 'fan experience' hopes to get you into the party spirit.
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
YES Theatre Young Company opened its acclaimed kids’ show, One Small Step, at Sudbury Theatre Centre on Saturday.
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
The threat of zebra mussels has prompted the federal government to temporarily ban watercraft from a Manitoba lake popular with tourists.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is inviting visitors to explore their poop. A new exhibition opens at the Ottawa museum on Friday called, 'Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste.'