Vancouver Island First Nation paints bridge orange in honour of residential school students
Ahead of the second National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Friday, a Vancouver Island First Nation is working to make a local bridge with a dark past more welcoming.
It's known as the "Orange Bridge" to many of the locals in the Port Alberni, B.C., area.
"There's a lot of survivors who won't come to Port Alberni and who won't cross this bridge because it reminds them of this school," said Ken Watts, Elected Chief Councillor of the Tseshaht First Nation.
Heading west along Highway 4, the Orange Bridge crosses the Somass River and enters the Tseshaht First Nation where the Alberni Indian Residential School once sat just a few hundred metres away.
The bridge is a constant reminder to survivors of what happened there.
"Many kids crossed the bridge. They were considered runaways," said Wally Samuel, an Alberni Indian Residential School survivor.
Another survivor, Donna Samuel, says most people had no idea what the bridge meant to survivors.
But that will hopefully start to change. On Tuesday, survivors – with help from the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Main Road Contracting – painted the four corners of the bridge orange to honour all of the children who attended the school.
The "Orange Bridge" is pictured in Port Alberni, B.C. (CTV News)
"It's a part of our healing journey," said Wally.
"I'm glad to be doing this today as a reminder," added Donna.
Chief Watts says the bridge is intended to stand as a symbol for current and future generations.
"We need to remind people when they pass this bridge about what happened here, and also the resilience of our people and how we have survived," he said.
But the job won't be complete without involving the next generation. Educators have to teach what the orange paint symbolizes, and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is an important part of that.
"It's a day for people who went to residential [schools] and survived, and people who did not," said Riley Stewart, a student at Haahuupayak Elementary School.
"And a lot of the elders are still alive and used to go there and they lost their culture," added student Heexal Dennis Marshel.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.