Steps of Remembrance

At Pierre de Coubertin Elementary School (PDC) in St. Leonard, students came together for a meaningful moment of remembrance and reflection through 6,000 Steps of Remembrance, a collaborative initiative led by Physical Education teachers Patricia Granaudo and Kelly Ladora, in partnership with Community Development Agent Vince Lacroce.

Select classes participated in a silent walk around the school, guided by their Physical Education teachers. Together, students worked toward 6,000 collective steps, symbolically honouring the more than 6,000 Indigenous children who never returned home from residential schools. For the students, the walk was about much more than physical activity. Each quiet step provided an opportunity to pause, reflect, remember, and acknowledge the lives, families, and communities affected by the residential school system. Walking together in silence, students were reminded that remembering matters, learning matters, and every step toward greater understanding matters.

Through this powerful collaboration, PDC brought together wellness, education, remembrance, and community, creating a meaningful experience that encouraged students to reflect not only on the past, but also on the importance of building a more compassionate and informed future.