Dozens of community members and students wore orange shirts at John Abbott College on Tuesday to mark Truth and Reconciliation Day.

“It’s a great environment here of people supporting each other in times of need for our different stuff, and all the different cultures, especially on such an important day like today to have the community and the people here to be there for each other. It’s really heartwarming to see everybody coming together for it,” said Sofia Mendes, a student at John Abbott College

The college welcomed federal Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty to meet with students and the community, and to reflect on the meaning of the day — with personal stories shared about the lasting impact of residential schools.

“This day for me, I reflect when my own mother invited me to La Tuque, QC. She attended a residential school there. She invited me, I think I was about the age of nine. I was pretty young. She invited me because the school had decided to demolish a part of the building,” said Minister Gull-Masty.

“The students did a tour. My mother shared with me her stories of where she played. She showed me the closet where she hid.”

This Tuesday also marked the 10th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, created in response to the legacy of residential schools. After her speech, Minister Gull-Masty invited Elder Clara Napash to share her experience as a survivor.

“It made it real for everybody that residential schools only closed in the 1990s. And the fact that the elder could speak about her experience to all of us, like my grandparents were residential school survivors too. Well, in Clara’s words, warriors. And that part I really appreciated to hear her thoughts about it and how we have to forgive,” said Shannelle Moar, an executive member of the John Abbott College’s Indigenous Club.

“I’m just really glad that this event happened. It’s amazing, honestly. It’s not what I imagined. It’s like I just invited Minister Mandy and all the other MPs started coming. The Speaker of House of Commons came, and I did not expect this at all. But I’m so glad it turned out the way it did. And I can’t wait to see what we do in the future,” Moar added.

Layna-april Reverin Rock, an executive member of John Abbott College’s Indigenous Club, said, “When the last residential school was abolished, it was in 1996, which is like 10 years before I was born. It’s also for me a way to show that we’re resilient people, we’re strong, and we’re more than our pain.”