National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

In honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, you are invited to join the King’s community for reflection in front of the Wemple Hall flag poles. Residential school survivor and Indigenous Elder Lyla Bruyere will share her story of her time at St. Margaret’s school in Fort Frances, Ontario, Treaty #3. Lyla attended residential school from the ages of 6 to 14. After Lyla speaks, the Survivor’s Flag will be raised to remember and honour the lives lost and impacted by the residential school system.

About Lyla Bruyere

Lyla earned her Bachelor of Social Work in 1998 from Carleton University and received her Master's of Social Work in 2014. She has been speaking about her experience in the residential school for 30 years. She specifically speaks about resiliency, and her accomplishments today as an Elder.

She has had the privilege of being part of the Elder’s Circle through the Truth & Reconciliation Commission from 2017 to 2019. Lyla enjoyed the experience and learned a lot from other survivors.

Today, Lyla continues her journey speaking to universities and college classes, and enjoys speaking to elementary schools. She is amazed how much young people know about residential school in today’s education.

Her future endeavors are to work on a documentary called “I Am Water,” which she hopes to complete in the summer of 2024. Watch the trailer

Lyla’s motto is “Don’t Forget to Live.”