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The St. Albert Healing Garden, which will acknowledge survivors of Indian residential schools and provide a place of truth and reconciliation, is set to officially open to the public on Friday with pipe ceremony and celebration.
St. Albert was home to two residential schools: St. Albert Indian Residential School (Youville, located on Mission Hill) and Edmonton Indian Residential School (Poundmaker, located about six km east of downtown St. Albert).
This community project was led by a planning committee which consisted of survivors, representatives from the First Nations and Métis communities, United Church, Catholic Church, St. Albert Arts and Heritage Foundation, Michif Cultural Connections, City of St. Albert and the public.
The St. Albert Healing Garden is located downtown along the Sturgeon River across from St. Albert Place along Red Willow Trail.
The Pipe ceremony and cultural teachings runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. after which there will be a grand entry and entertainment
Mayor Nolan Crouse, Elder Tony Arcand, planning committee members, residential school survivors, City of St. Albert staff, local Métis and Indigenous community members, St. Albert school students are expected to be in attendance.