CANADA
CBC News
By Jason Warick, CBC News
Wanuskewin Heritage Park could soon play host to one of the biggest events in Saskatchewan history.
CBC News has learned of extensive efforts to bring Pope Francis to the area in 2018 or 2019.
The centrepiece of the visit would be a long-awaited residential school apology at Wanuskewin, located just north of Saskatoon.
The initial goal was to host the event next year in conjunction with a papal visit to Montreal. Earlier this month, the Vatican said Francis would not be available in 2017.
That hasn’t stopped the efforts of organizers such as Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas or Regina Archbishop Don Bolen, who served until recently as Bishop of the Saskatoon diocese. They’ve extended the invitation to 2018 or 2019.
“If it was up to us, it would have happened yesterday. We’d like to think it’ll happen sooner rather than later,” Thomas said.
“We need to heal and move on.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.