The survivors of the Grandview Training School for Girls in the Galt area harbor painful memories. This provincially operated boarding school for troubled girls near Isherwood Avenue in Cambridge, Ont., ceased operations five decades ago. However, the lasting impact of the institution, which operated from 1933 to 1976, continues to haunt those who were once students there.
Following the school’s closure, numerous staff members faced charges including rape, assault, and sexual abuse. Eight former employees were criminally charged, leading to convictions for two guards. In 1994, a settlement was reached between the provincial government and 140 former students. Subsequently, an official apology was issued by Ontario Attorney General Jim Flaherty in 1999, acknowledging the trauma inflicted on the women, their families, and the community.
Hannah Foulger, a theatre artist and playwright, is endeavoring to shed light on these stories through a new project named “The View From Here.” Foulger resided at the school during the 1990s when it was transformed into a performing arts and theatre space by a missionary organization.
In an interview with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo’s “The Morning Edition,” Foulger shared her personal connection to the building and discussed the project. “The View From Here” is a multifaceted endeavor combining a documentary play with a curated exhibition, developed over a decade through interviews with survivors, community members, and historical research.
The project aims to provide a platform for these untold stories, allowing survivors and descendants to share their experiences and confront the intergenerational trauma linked to the school’s dark history. Foulger emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and integrating these narratives into the community’s collective memory, akin to the reconciliation efforts seen in addressing residential school legacies.
