Author of case study: Vanessa Sicotte

Geopolitical location of space:
Pacific National Exhibition Grounds, 
2901 E Hastings St
Vancouver, British Columbia

Extant? Yes

Architect:
Not specified

Timeframe of RJ/TJ process in this space:

The British Columbia National Event took place from Wednesday, September 18, 2013 to Saturday, September 21, 2013 and was part of the Truth and Reconciliation hearings that were held across Canada. The event was the sixth National Event organized by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to “bear witness to the experiences of survivors of Indian Residential Schools, and the schools continuing legacy.”

Background information:

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established as part of the settlement of a class-action lawsuit related to the Indigenous residential school system in Canada. The purpose of the commission is to take testimony from the thousands of native people who were victimized by the residential schools (both directly, at the schools, and the continuing effects of that victimization), to amplify the voices of those who have been silenced, to encourage the perpetrators of the wrongs to come forward to apologize, to provide a historic record and, crucially, to link native and non-native people in a process of reconciliation.

Is restorative justice actually taking place in this space?

The TRC British Columbia National Event took place at the Pacific National Exhibition Grounds in Vancouver and commenced with the All Nations Canoe Gathering. The University of British Columbia cancelled classes for the duration of the event, encouraging students to watch the event and making live streaming spaces available on campus.

Is this space designed/arranged for safe listening?

The event was filmed, and videos are now archived and available for the public to view. Victims were given the opportunity to be heard on a large open stage with no intimacy or safeguarding.

Who is the audience/the intended participants for this space?

The event was intended for members of the Church, Canadian government and First Nation peoples to meet and begin healing the harm done to their communities through the residential schools.

How or to what extent is this space public?

This site is public.

What are the politics of this space, either in terms of its location, design, spatial, or visual aspects?

This site is not neutral. Sitting on unceded Indigenous lands, the exhibition grounds serve as a representation of capitalism and White colonial-settler domination. Built in 1910 and opened by Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the venue is a reminder, as well as a display of power, of Canada’s colonial past.

Physical/factual description of space:

During the four (4) days event, the different hearings and reconciliation ceremonies were held on the Vancouver Pacific National Exhibition grounds in three main venues: Forum, Coliseum and Agrodome. Other activities and walks were held outdoors and throughout the city. The main events took place within the Forum and Coliseum, while a “learning place” was set up within the Agrodome.The Agrodome features an ice surface for minor hockey and figure skating events during the winter months. For the remainder of the year, the Agrodome plays host to a variety of events including professional tennis, boxing, wrestling, special events and flat shows. An oval floor with a polished concrete surface is surrounded by more than 3,000 permanent seats. Additional floor seating for 2,000 is available for concerts and other events.

The venues were tailored to the occasion to suit their independent needs and mandates. The venue where the hearings took place proposed a large wooden façade in the shape of a house with an Indigenous eagle painted in traditional black and red. The façade stood in front of black floor to ceiling drapes, giving the massive hall a more intimate aspect. A podium, for the speakers, mimicked the wooden façade in both its chosen material as well as its pointed shape. A stylized face emblem was affixed to the front of the podium. To the left of the stage was set a large screen, broadcasting to the audience the speeches onstage as well as Truth and Reconciliation Commission identified presentations. Seating was arranged in rows facing the stage. It is unclear if the arena’s seating was used for the occasion or left unoccupied.

Analytical description of space:

Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission hosted the B.C. National Event from Sept. 18 to 21 at the PNE in Vancouver. The event was mandated by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and provided former students, their families and all affected by the schools to share their experiences with the TRC and the public.

“Truth-telling is a critical step along the path to healing and recovery for those impacted by the residential schools and their legacy, and bearing witness to the truths of others is equally important in moving towards reconciliation,” said a joint statement issued by the BC Assembly of First Nations, the First Nations Summit, and the Union of BC Chiefs.

More than 4,000 students and 200 teachers participated in the TRC events. The British Columbia Teachers Federation established a $100,000 grant program so teachers could travel to Vancouver to learn more about the experience people had in residential schools. The commission was established in 2007 as an independent body to inform all Canadians about what happened in the 150 years of residential schools in Canada.