SAINT JOHN, N.B. --
This year’s Canada Day was one unlike any other in history, as Canadians came together to listen and learn about the country’s history of residential schools, amid recent confirmations of hundreds of unmarked graves at former school sites.
Healing walks were held in parts of the Maritimes as a way to mark July 1 including in Saint John, N.B., where it’s estimated nearly a thousand people came out to Rockwood Park to participate in the event held by Hearts of Saint John and Eastern Circle Saint John.
“It’s definitely, there are mixed emotions,” says Cassandra McLaughlin, president and chairwoman of Eastern Circle Saint John. “It’s really good to finally get the recognition that we have been hurting in Canada, and I’m really happy just to see the change in perspective and…the awakening.”