During their time in Victoria this month, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit a popular Ogden Point café, sail with local youth, meet children and adults who have overcome great adversity and witness an art installation that pays tribute to one of the darkest chapters of a shared colonial history: the residential school system in Canada.
Local artist Carey Newman unveiled the Witness Blanket in Victoria two years ago to honour and bring attention to the abuse of aboriginals in residential schools.
The exhibit is inspired by the traditional blanket shape and made up of more than 800 artifacts from residential schools and survivors across the country. The items include light fixtures, bricks, a pair of children’s skates and handmade dolls, as well as photographs and documents.
“The whole philosophy behind the blanket is these items collectively form a quiet, undeniable truth about the Indian residential school era in Canada,” said Newman, who has toured the monument across the country as a means of education and healing.
When it was announced Prince William and Catherine would visit Victoria, Newman got a call from his wife, who told him the couple had to see the Witness Blanket and be part of the national conversation on reconciliation.
“Reconciliation is the way we interact with one another, the way we face the truth about colonization and residential schools,” said Newman, who is of Kwagiulth, Salish and British descent.
But the artwork was scheduled to be on display at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo during the visit. So when Newman happened to cross paths with Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon this summer, he ran the idea of the royal couple visiting the monument by her.
When another stop on the itinerary was ruled out, Newman said they came up with the idea to bring the Witness Blanket to Government House and delay the Nanaimo exhibit for a few weeks.
“It all just worked out,” said Newman, who installed the Witness Blanket in the ballroom of Government House this week for a special reception on Sept. 26. At an installation ceremony this week, Newman noted the powerful symbolism of seeing the everyday objects in such a grand space.
“Direct descendants of the Royal Family, the original colonizers of this country, will come into contact with these pieces,” he said.
A few kilometres away at the Cridge Centre for the Family, another monument is being prepared for the visit. When the royal couple visit the centre on Oct. 1, an 8.5-foot sculpture will be unveiled in front of the seniors’ centre, said communications manager Joanne Specht.
The sculpture by Steve Milroy, commissioned about three months ago, honours those who have overcome difficulties, Specht said.
“We wanted to do something that would honour the overcomers,” she said. The centre has a 143-year history of serving children, seniors, people with brain injuries, young parents, women and children leaving relationship violence, refugee and immigrant families, and families with children with disabilities.
“The Duke and Duchess will have an opportunity to meet with some of them,” Specht said. They will also be introduced to longtime supporters, including Michael Cridge, great-great-grandson of the organization’s founders, Edward and Mary Cridge.
The next stop of the day will take the royal couple and their entourage to the Breakwater Cafe at Ogden Point, where they will meet will meet with members of the Vancouver-based Kelty Mental Health Resources Centre.
Manager Roy Minett said he was surprised to get the call that the Royal Family wanted to take over the café for a few hours.
“We’re pretty stoked for it,” Minett said. Other than meeting with several levels of international security and keeping the café in “tip-top condition,” he’s not making any special preparations for the visit quite yet.
“We’ll do coffee and tea and maybe some breakfast. … It will be great exposure for us,” he said.
After the meeting, the royal couple will go on a sailing trip with Victoria’s Sailing and Life Training Society and about 20 youth from national mental-health organization Jack.org.
“We’ll have both of our tall ships out that day,” said Loren Hagerty, executive director of SALTS. “I understand the Duke and Duchess love sailing.”
Hagerty said the royal entourage, guests and crews will sail the Pacific Grace and Pacific Swift ships for about an hour off Victoria Harbour. He noted this will be the second royal sail for SALTS. In 1987, Prince Philip sailed on the Robertson II. “There are lots of logistics to plan. It’s pretty interesting and exciting to watch how it all happens.”
