Latest news with #AmandaPatrick
Global News
3 days ago
- General
- Global News
Hundreds take part in St. Albert's annual Run for Reconciliation, organizer says support growing
The organizer of an annual Canada Day event northwest of Edmonton, a gathering that focuses on raising awareness about the history and impact of residential schools while promoting reconciliation, says it is getting more support than ever. 'There's been so much support — right from the first year,' Amanda Patrick, who helped organize the fifth annual Run for Reconciliation in St. Albert, Alta., said on Tuesday. 'We gather every year (on) July 1 — on Canada Day — to honour the past before we celebrate the future.' Patrick said the run has seen about 400 people take part each year, ever since the event was started in the wake of human remains being found using ground-penetrating radar searches near residential school sites. This year, Patrick said more than 500 people took part in the run, which began in St. Albert's Lions Park and ended at the St. Albert Healing Garden. Story continues below advertisement 'We walk and run in … remembrance of those who attended Canadian residential schools as survivors and those that live with intergenerational trauma,' she said. Many participants who took part in the walk or run wore orange shirts, the colour having become a symbol of reconciliation and showing respect for residential school survivors. Many people's shirts had the words 'every child matters' printed on them. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I'm very happy to be here today for this event and recognizing the people and the stories of this land that I live (on), love and grew up on,' James Rossmann told Global News when asked why he decided to take part. 'I think that's super important.' Hazel McKennitt, a venerated teacher, community volunteer and activist in the Edmonton area, has been actively involved with the run since it began and was there on Tuesday. Story continues below advertisement McKennitt said she spent 10 years attending a residential school from the age of six until she was 16, and said she believes the impacts and legacy of residential schools are still very evident today. 'Child welfare is still an extension of residential school,' she said. 'The trauma is still an extension of residential school, and it's going to continue if we don't tell the truth about residential schools and what happened.' Patrick said that not only has the event seen more support each year, but the people who put it on are becoming 'more and more organized,' and have started a non-profit organization called Kisakihikawin St. Albert. The non-profit is raising money through the run this year for the Poundmaker's Lodge Treatment Centre, an Indigenous addiction treatment centre. Patrick said the City of St. Albert has also been offering more and more support for the run each year. 'It's become a staple in a lot of people's lives for Canada Day,' she said. 'We have a lot of participants who say this is part of their day now. 'I think events like this offer a space where participants can learn about reconciliation, be in a space where they can ask questions and not feel judged … walk away with more knowledge and understanding of how they can have reconciliation in their life and what they can do going forward.'
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘Every step counts': Runners raise awareness for residential school survivors on Canada Day
Runners tie orange ribbons and messages around the St. Albert Healing Garden gazebo at the end of fourth annual Run for Reconciliation on July 1, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Sean McClune) A rippling sea of orange was seen in St. Albert Tuesday as over 500 people showed up to run and walk to raise awareness for residential school survivors. The Run for Reconciliation began at the Lions Park at 9 a.m. on Canada Day and ended at the St. Albert Healing Garden – about a three to five kilometre stretch. Amanda Patrick, the founding organizer of the run, said the event is to honour and remember those impacted by residential schools. 'The reason we do it on Canada Day, and why we wear orange, is to say that we want to honour those residential school survivors, honour those children that never made it home, and honour the families that live with the intergenerational trauma,' said Patrick at Tuesday's event. RECONCILIATION Amanda Patrick, the founding organizer of the St. Albert Run for Reconciliation is seen at the event on July 1, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Sean McClune) 'Canada Day is a good day to do it because we love this country and we want to celebrate it, but we also want to honour and remember the past.' Patrick started the run in 2021 after the discovery of 215 potential unmarked graves at the Kamloops Residential School in B.C. 'I felt very impacted by that and wanted to do something,' said Patrick. 'And then it turned into an annual event.' Patrick said more and more people are participating year after year. In 2024, there were about 400 participants – today, the number climbed to over 500. Orange ribbons were provided to participants to carry while they ran or walked along the route. After arriving at the Healing Garden, people tied their ribbons around gazebo posts, and some attached notes to them. RECONCILIATION Runners tie orange ribbons around the St. Albert Healing Garden gazebo at the end of fourth annual Run for Reconciliation on July 1, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Sean McClune) Hazel McKennitt, a 77-year-old residential school survivor has been coming to the run every year since its inception. 'It makes us stronger, it keeps us going,' said McKennitt, who went to a residential school in Manitoba from when she was 10 years-old to 16. 'Child welfare is still an extension of residential schools, the trauma is still an extension of residential schools, and it's going to continue if we don't tell the truth about residential schools,' said McKennitt. This year the run raised funds for the Poundmaker's Lodge Treatment Centre in St. Albert. The centre is an Indigenous cultural and spiritual-based addiction and mental health treatment facility. RECONCILIATION Runners gather Lions Park in St. Albert, Alta., on July 1, 2025 for the fourth annual Run for Reconciliation. (CTV News Edmonton/Sean McClune) 'A lot of the people that visit their organization have suffered from intergenerational trauma, and so we really wanted to bring the funds we raise home,' said Patrick. In June, a fire damaged the treatment centre, temporarily displacing clients. 'The funds this year are needed even more than ever,' said Patrick. Nearly $4,000 had been raised as of Tuesday afternoon, with more donations expected until the end of the day. Donations can be made here.
