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(SAULT STE. MARIE, ON- October 21, 2020): Algoma University’s Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre (SRSC) has been awarded the National Trust of Canada Ecclesiastical Insurance Cornerstone Resilient Places Award for their impressive work on the Shingwauk site.

The Ecclesiastical Insurance Cornerstone Awards bring national attention to exemplary projects and places that contribute to quality of life and sense of place, and illustrate the viability of heritage buildings and sites for traditional or new uses. The awards are presented in two categories, (1) Transformative Projects and (2) Resilient Places. The ‘Resilient Places’ award is given to historic places or landscapes that illustrate extraordinary resilience, significance, and benefit to a community over a sustained period of time, with a successful track record of 10 years or more.

“It is through endeavours and acknowledgements like this, that continue to give hope to the important work of truth and reconciliation,” noted Elizabeth Edgar-Webkamigad, Director of the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre. “The resilience of our First Nations, Métis and Inuit right across the land is a gift that will continue to be passed on for generations to come. Intergenerational trauma will see healing because of it.”

The Shingwauk Residential School site was home to an Indian Residential School from 1874 to 1970. Since 1970, the Shingwauk site has been transformed into a place of education, Survivor resilience and community transformation. As one of only 14 remaining Residential School buildings, and one of the only former Residential Schools to be used as a university, the Shingwauk site holds national significance. The Shingwauk site was the location of the first large scale Residential School Survivor reunion in 1981 and it is home to the longest-running community archives dedicated to Residential Schools, the Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall exhibit.

“Through the efforts of local Indigenous communities and Residential School Survivors, the Shingwauk site has been transformed into a place of learning, commemoration, and healing,” shared Arthur A. Wishart Library and Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre Researcher/Curator Krista McCracken. “The Shingwauk site represents decades of sustained community resilience to ensure that the legacy of Residential Schools is honoured and remembered.”

Recipients will be recognized during the National Trust Conference, virtually.