Students from three Aldergrove schools — Aldergrove Secondary, Betty Gilbert Middle and Shortreed Elementary — packed the big gym at Aldergrove Secondary for a Reconciliation Ceremony on Thursday (due to space limitation, other schools such as Parkside Elementary held their own ceremonies).
It was an emotional event for those in attendance, as they viewed videos including a presentation by retired Langley school trustee Cecelia Reekie (in photo wearing a ceremonial blanket) on her personal journey of discovery, truth and reconciliation.
“The emphasis is on truth,” said Reekie, noting that, “Residential schools don’t exist any more and will never open again. Aboriginal youths come into these schools where we all celebrate diversity. That is what Canada is all about.”
In the photos below, Aldergrove Secondary artist Raelene Boehm unveiled her medicine wheel with its colours representing all races, and Reekie also posed with the school principals and the Reconciliation plaques for each school.
