A long wait ends: Trudeau apologizes to N.L. residential school students
GOOSE BAY, N.L. — Once frightened, lonely children who lost their culture and innocence rose in a standing ovation Friday as the prime minister at last said it for all Canadians: It was wrong, and we are sorry.
“I humbly stand before you to offer a long-overdue apology,” Justin Trudeau said through tears. “To all of you, we are sorry.”
Many of the 300 people gathered for the ceremony in Goose Bay bowed their heads and cried. Others tried to comfort those who sobbed openly.
Trudeau offered the apology for beatings, sexual abuse, neglect and loss of Innu and Inuit language and culture at residential schools in the province. They were located in North West River, Makkovik, Cartwright and Nain — all in Labrador — and one in St. Anthony in northern Newfoundland.