Legacy of Hope

Welcome Centre - Kincardine Centre for the Arts
707 Queen Street, Kincardine

This exhibition explores the concept of Reconciliation through artistic expression and what that means to youth in Canada. The banners feature artworks and poems by winners of the first Imagine a Canada    competition announced in March 2016. Imagine a Canada is an annual national art and essay competition sponsored by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in collaboration with Rideau Hall. It asks young people to share their thoughts on what the future of Canada can look like through the lens of hope, respect and Reconciliation.

The Walker House
235 Harbour Street, Kincardine 

This 10th Year Commemorative Exhibition was created to acknowledge the dark chapter in Canada’s history, to remember the Survivors who made it out of the Schools, and to honour those who did not, so that we can learn, change, take action and build respectful relationships between Canadians and Indigenous Peoples moving forward. These relationships must be based on integrity, understanding, empathy, and appreciation for the resilience of Indigenous Peoples and for the many invaluable contributions that formed the foundation of this country we now share. This Exhibition provides all Canadians with a unique opportunity to reflect on what they have learned, what actions they can take and what Reconciliation means for them and what they want for the journey forward. 

View the Statement of Apology to former students of Indian Residential Schools.

The Walker House
235 Harbour Street, Kincardine 

For several centuries, Indigenous children were taken from their homes and communities and placed in institutions called Residential Schools. Th ese schools were run by religious orders in collaboration with the Federal Government and were attended by children as young as four or five years of age. (100 years was an arbitrary number that was used for marketing purposes only) Separated from their families and prohibited from speaking their native languages and practicing their culture, the vast majority of the over 150,000 children that attended these schools experienced neglect and suffering. The impacts of sexual, mental, and physical abuse, shame, and deprivation endured at Residential Schools continue to affect generations of Survivors, their families, and communities today. Remarkably, in the face of this tremendous adversity, many Survivors and their descendants have retained their language and their culture and continue to work toward healing and Reconciliation. This is likely due to their traditional and cultural beliefs, teachings and way of life prior to attending Residential Schools.