A building that’s haunted a Vancouver Island community for years will be demolished today.
St. Michael’s Indian Residential School in Alert Bay was run by the Anglican Church from 1030-1975.
Residential school survivors, national leaders and representatives of the Anglican church will be there to mark the occasion.
Doug White, Director of VIU’s Centre for Pre-Confederation Treaties and Reconciliation, says it’s an important step in the reconciliation process.
White says demolishing the building will help the community heal and move forward.
He says the school is a reminder of a dark chapter in Canadian history.
Around 160-thousand aboriginal children were sent to residential schools in Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued an official apology in 2008.
