The Future of Pekw’xe:yles Begins Here

The Colonial Government grants the land to the Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, to be used as a central meeting place for Indigenous Peoples and as a site for education, worship, and administration. Construction on St. Mary’s Residential School begins.

The first St. Mary's Indian Residential School is constructed near the Fraser River. The early location is not part of the current Pekw'xe:yles, but marks the beginning of one of the longest-running residential schools in British Columbia.

The school moves from its original location on the property to accommodate the Canadian Pacific Railway. The second location, in what is now Fraser River Heritage Park, opens in 1885.

The federal government amends the Indian Act, giving itself the authority to compel any Indigenous child aged 7–15 to attend either a day school or a residential school.

Children from many First Nation communities across Canada are forcibly removed from their families and placed in schools like St. Mary’s, where they are not allowed to speak their language or practice their culture. This law remains in effect for decades.

Residential schools, including St. Mary's were known to have high rates of tuberculosis among their students due to overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. In an effort to manage the spread of tuberculosis, St. Mary's establishes a preventorium on site in 1936, which closes in 1955.

The government approves construction of a new school building, citing overcrowding and unsafe conditions at the older site.

The federal government purchases new land - now the Pekw’xe:yles Reserve - just to the east of the second site. A modern school complex is built and officially opens on September 20, 1961. It includes dormitories, classrooms, a chapel, gymnasium, and living quarters for staff and clergy. It is designed to house up to 300 children.

The Order of the Oblates officially transfers ownership of the property to the Federal Crown.

The school portion of the residential school was closed and the facility renamed the St. Mary’s Student Residence, continuing to house Indigenous children who attended public schools in the area. It continues in use until the residence finally closed in 1984.

The property is fully administered by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND).

An electrical fire breaks out in the school. It goes undetected until smoke is seen coming through the roof. 122 children, aged 6 to 19, were inside. All were safely evacuated.

Stó:lō Nation expresses interest in regaining control of the St. Mary’s property. At the same time, the Canadian Pacific Education Association proposes leasing the land for an international boarding school.

After the residence closes, the land is leased to the Coqualeetza Education Training Centre (CETC) for $1 per year, to prevent it from being declared surplus Crown land — a designation that would have allowed the government to sell it without Indigenous consultation.

Political and municipal lobbying against reserve status begins, led by the former Mayor of Mission (Agnew) and the past Member of Parliament for the Federal Riding (St. Germaine). 

A tax bill of $95,442 is issued to CETC, despite the land being federally owned and leased. The District of Mission sues CETC for unpaid taxes and urges the government to cancel the lease. The municipality proposes alternate uses for the land.

Mission agrees to support reserve status if the back taxes are paid, and a servicing and land use agreement is approved. Later that year, the Stó:lō Forum and the federal government offer $105,000 to settle the tax dispute.

The Deputy Minister of INAC approves the Additions to Reserve (ATR) process with conditions. The lawsuit is settled, and all parties agree to move forward with reserve designation and servicing negotiations.

An environmental assessment and site cleanup is conducted. A Community Plan is created to guide future use of the site.

Stó:lō Nation hosts information sessions with the twenty-one communities to share updates on the ATR process and gather input.

St. Mary’s (Pekw’xe:yles) Additions to Reserve (ATR) 2003 signing ceremony.

A Servicing Agreement is ratified between the District of Mission, the Stó:lō Nation Society, and all twenty-one Stó:lō communities that share the site.

The ATR is finalized, and the land is officially added to the reserve base through an Order in Council. The lease to the Stó:lō Nation is formally registered.

The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) was approved, coming into effect in 2007. The IRSSA provided financial compensation to Survivors of institutions recognized by the Agreement, established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, funded healing and commemoration initiatives, and led to Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologizing for the residential school system in Parliament in 2008. St. Mary’s Residential School was included under the Agreement.

ATR Working Group grants access to the District of Mission for an Agricultural Impact Assessment related to a proposed public trail.

After the announcement of 215 potential unmarked graves at Kamloops Indian Residential School, the Stó:lō Nation Chiefs Council starts an investigation of the ground at the three residential schools in their territory, including St. Mary’s.

The Canadian Federal Government commits to give $100.1 million to support community plans to demolish and remediate former residential school buildings and sites on reserves across Canada. 

The twenty-one Stó:lō communities, through the Stó:lō Service Agency, inform tenants of Pekw’xe:yles (St. Mary’s) that the future of the former residential school buildings are under discussion. The notice explains that federal funding is now available to support demolition or replacement as part of reconciliation efforts, and that communities are exploring options for the site.

In February, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) state that buildings on 34 sites of the 140 former residential schools recognized by the IRSSA were still in use, including at St. Mary’s. In the same year, St. Mary's tenants receive termination of lease letters from the Stó:lō Service Agency, with the option of month-to-month leases as the plans to demolish the site begin.

The site is scheduled for full deconstruction. Cultural protocols and community gatherings will guide this process, as the land is prepared for new purposes determined by the Stó:lō communities.

The proposed Interpretative Centre will open to the public (projected 2028).