At least 10 Calgary churches defaced with red paint on Canada Day

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

At least 10churches in Calgary have been defaced with red paint, following a national reckoning over the Catholicchurch's role in the residential school system.

Police saythe places of worship were splashed with red paint or red handprints, and in one case a window was broken so paint could be tossed inside.

At one church, the phrases"we were children" and "our lives matter" were painted in red across the building's door.

The vandalized churches are:

• St.Bonaventure Catholic Church at 1600 Acadia Dr.S.E..
• St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church at 819 13th Ave.S.W.
• St. Mary's Cathedral at 219 18th Ave.S.W.
• Sacred Heart Church and Columbarium at 1307 14th St.S.W.
• Grace Presbyterian Church at 1009 15th Ave.S.W.
• St. Luke's Parish at 1566 Northmount Dr.N.W.
• Holy Trinity Church at 1525 45th St.S.E.
• St. Anthony's Catholic Parish at 5340 FourthSt.S.W.
• All Nations Full Gospel Church at 1403 Eighth Ave.S.E.
• St. Joseph Catholic Church at 640 19th Ave.N.W.

Maria Shysh, a parishioner atAssumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, which was not on the list of vandalized churches provided by the Calgary police,said red handprints and the number of children's remains found in unmarked graves at residential schoolswere painted across the front door and sign of the church.

"We understood the message and of course we were saddened to hear that this had happened to our parish," Shysh said.

"We know it's not personal to us necessarily. We hurt with them and we understand that they're in pain. And all we can do is keep praying for those who perished and for healing to come on both sides."

In recent weeks, it's estimated that more than 1,000 unmarked grave siteshave been located at former residential schools in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

The Catholic church operated more than half of all residential schools in Canada between 1831 and 1996, as well as manyday schools.

• WATCH | Renewed push for Catholic Church to compensate residential school survivors.

Renewed push for Catholic Church to compensate residential school survivors

3 years ago

Duration 1:57

Residential school survivors accuse the Catholic Church of failing to live up to its promise to raise $25 million in compensation for pain, suffering and abuse, even while it successfully raises tens of millions of dollars for brand-new churches. Survivors in Saskatchewan call it a betrayal, and proof that the Catholic Church does not take its responsibilities to Indigenous people seriously.

The Roman Catholic Church is the only institution that has not yet formally apologized for its part in running residential schools in Canada afterthe discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves, although some local dioceses have expressed regret. Pope Francis has expressed sympathy and his "closeness to traumatized Canadians" but has not apologized to Indigenous people for the church's role.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations has called for the church to release its records of the schoolsso the United Nations can conduct an investigation.

Other churches across the province and country have been vandalizedor damaged by what are suspected to deliberately set fires.

On Wednesday, St. Jean Baptiste Parish in Morinville, about 40 kilometres north of Edmonton, was destroyed by fire.Two fires werestarted at churches on Siksika First Nation land this week, but damage was minimal.

Shysh said she hopes the Canadian government and the Catholic church will work together, andwill hopefully provide more disclosure and transparency to work toward healing.

"Given the harm this chapter of our history has caused toIndigenous people in our community, it is understandable that emotions and tensions are running high," the Calgary Police Service said in an emailed release.

Police saythe service is committed to working toward reconciliation and ensuring that the generational trauma of the residential school system is addressed in policing, but that it's important to work together to find a path forward.

"Vandalism like this is not just illegal; it serves to create further division, fear and destruction in our city. We need to find the people responsible, both to hold them accountable and to prevent further divisive incidents," police said.

Police sayits hate crime unit is involved in the investigation, as all of the vandalized churches are part of the Christian faith.

Premier Jason Kenney wrote in a tweet that the vandalism is "appalling," and pointed out that one of the targeted churches All Nations Full Gospel Church has a congregation largely made up of new Canadians.

"These folks came to Canada with the hope that they could practise their faith peacefully. Some of them are traumatized by such attacks. This is where hatred based on collective guilt for historic injustices leads us. Let's seek unity, respect andreconciliation instead," Kenney wrote.

Shelagh Toolesaid during mass at Sacred Heart on Thursday she and others prayed for the person or personswho vandalized the building.

She said her parents were married at the church and she was baptized there, and that the community has been an anchor for many during the pandemic.

"My heart is broken. I know there's a lot of woundedness in the world," she said.

"People can't always manage their hurts, their woundedness I think I'd just say, we forgive you, we love you."

Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools, and those who are triggered by the latest reports.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for survivors and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.