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HomeUncategorizedIn Cranbrook, B.C., the Ktunaxa Nation is transforming past pain into a...

In Cranbrook, B.C., the Ktunaxa Nation is transforming past pain into a prosperous future

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Sophie Pierre, former chief of ʔaq̓am, one of the bands in the Ktunaxa Nation, oversaw the transformation of St. Eugene Resort from a residential school to a thriving hotel.

When Sophie Pierre looks out across the St. Mary River from her home on the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa First Nation near Cranbrook, British Columbia, she sees the residential school she attended from 1956 until 1965 — only it isn’t a residential school anymore. Since 2003, the St. Eugene Resort, with its world-class golf course and Rocky Mountain backdrop, has stood as a monument to the resilience of her community and their efforts to reclaim control of the narrative in a story that reaches back 10,000 years.

The resort, sprawling and undeniably beautiful, has at its centre the red-roofed school building erected in 1910 and run by Roman Catholic missionaries since 1912. After its closure in 1970, the building sat empty and decaying for two decades while ownership was in limbo and the community debated what to do with the property — a place that represented suffering and housed deeply traumatic memories.

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Ethan Radcliffe
Ethan Radcliffe is a senior reporter and digital editor at The Toronto Insider, specializing in Canadian federal policy, GTA urban development, and national economic trends. With over a decade of experience in North American journalism, Ethan focuses on translating complex legislative and economic developments into clear, accessible reporting for Canadian readers. Ethan’s work emphasizes policy analysis, government accountability, and data-driven reporting, with a strong focus on how federal and provincial decisions impact communities across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. He has covered infrastructure planning, housing policy, fiscal strategy, and regulatory changes affecting Canadian households and businesses. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, Ethan brings expertise in investigative reporting, long-form analysis, editorial standards, and digital publishing best practices. His reporting is guided by verifiable sources, public records, and transparent sourcing. In addition to reporting, Ethan has experience in newsroom editing, fact-checking workflows, SEO-informed journalism, and audience analytics, ensuring stories meet both editorial integrity standards and modern digital discoverability requirements. Ethan is committed to objective, fact-driven journalism and adheres to established ethical guidelines, prioritizing accuracy, clarity, and public trust in all reporting.

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