My wife attended the Christie Indian Residential School in the 1950s. She was given a number not a name. The school was located on a remote location with the sole purpose of separating the children from their parents and culture. She was lucky not to be subjected to the physical and sexual abuse that other children endure.

In the early 1970s we had the opportunity to visit the abandoned school. Eventually the Canadian Government awarded reparations to former students as part of reconciliation project, but the school remained until October 2025.

Old Christie Residential School outbuildings to be demolished – Ahousaht Ha’wiih invite survivors to healing event hashilthsa.com/news/2025-09…

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— John Poltrack (@poltrack.net) October 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM

Former residential school building demolished on Meares Island hashilthsa.com/news/2025-10…

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— John Poltrack (@poltrack.net) October 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM

When a school has its own cemetery hashilthsa.com/news/2025-10…

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— John Poltrack (@poltrack.net) October 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM

Meares Island

Meares Island was chosen as the location for the school to ensure that the students would not be able to return to their villages. It was the policy to break the cultural bonds. The school was built in the early twentieth century.

School Photos

I have a few school photos probably taken in the 1950s including one of my wife with two other girls.

The school was run by Catholic Priests, Nuns and Brothers