I have been reading reports that over two hundred bodies of children have been found on the grounds of an old residential school in BC.  Like many of us, I cannot help but feel deep anger and grief – grief that innocent children should have died this way, and anger at those who were responsible for their care.  Anger, too, that they may have died because the government insisted on the program – a government that we all have a say in.

Written by Jeff Park, PCE Executive Director, in honour of Catholic Education Sunday 2020

“Canada is a grand experiment.” Those words rang out, closely accompanying the dear words of the Oath of Citizenship - the culmination of my long and costly (in countless senses) undertaking to become a Canadian citizen. The judge was taking one last chance to instill in us the values to which every Canadian should aspire - especially the value of pluralism. He explained that Canada has the unique heritage of being founded on the ideal of pluralism - not pretending that differences can be wished or washed or “melted” away, but valuing the unique contributions those differences provide. Canadian exceptionalism - if we can boast such a thing - lies in thoroughly applying this ideal, down to the level of schools.