Earlier today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Jonathan Wilkinson, announced the designation of the Former Shingwauk Indian Residential School as a national historic site under the National Program of Historical Commemoration.

A formal commemoration ceremony will be scheduled at a later date based on consultation with the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association (CSAA) and other stakeholders.  

I extend a special note of appreciation on behalf of Algoma University to the CSAA and the staff of the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre who led this effort as part of their ongoing commitment to raising awareness of the true history of the Shingwauk site.

We recognize this comes at a difficult time for many and that efforts to honour victims and families may act as an unwelcome reminder to those who have suffered hardships through generations of government policies that were harmful to Indigenous peoples. A National Residential School Crisis Line is available to provide support to former residential school students. You can access emotional crisis referral services. 

Please call the Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 if you or someone you know is triggered while reading this.

We encourage all those who need some support at this time to reach out and know that support is always there for you through the Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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