Many former residential school students have spoken publicly about the benefits they received from their Residential Schools experience.1 Some have said that their residential school years were “the best years of my life.” 2 The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report has a section, entitled “Warm Memories,” that is devoted exclusively to former students who spoke positively about their years at the schools. 3 4 Unfortunately, the Summary volume and the TRC Report rarely reported any of the positive responses from students.5 6
There are many records of school reunions arranged and attended by former students, school employees and administrators, as well as marriages, baptisms, and funerals of former students taking place in the chapels at the schools.7
Some students even returned to the school as employees, serving as ground keepers, dormitory supervisors, cooks, teachers, and other positions.