On Friday, September 29, children’s author David A. Robertson met virtually with students from Kindergarten to Grade 5 to discuss his book When We Were Alone. In When We Were Alone, a young girl learns about her grandmother’s experiences at residential school and how they influence the way she chooses to live today. David is a member of Norway House Cree Nation and currently lives in Winnipeg.

Middle and Senior School students welcomed guest speaker John P. Brown, Legal and Strategic Advisor, Indigenous Initiatives at McCarthy Tétrault LLP. John told the students about the lasting impact that residential schools had on the children who attended them, their families and communities, and discussed the importance of reconciliation. 

John’s family on his father’s side is Sto:lo and their traditional territory is British Columbia’s Fraser River Valley. Last year, our faculty and students sought John’s advice when creating a land acknowledgement for the school.

Many students wore orange shirts to help raise awareness of the intergenerational impacts of residential schools – and to promote the truth that Every Child Matters.

We’re very grateful to David and John for sharing their time and wisdom with us.