An advocate for the victims of sexual assault by clergy is hoping for a redesign of a nondescript memorial marking the abuses that occurred at Mount Cashel Orphanage.
Revelations of widespread abuse and sexual assault at the former institution operated by the Irish Christian Brothers rocked the province and the entire country in the early 1990s, and led to the eventual demolition of the building on Torbay Road.
The land surrounding the former orphanage was developed into what is now Howley Estates and the former gate posts to the orphanage are located just off the busy intersection, with a bench for “quiet reflection.”
(Mount Cashel Orphanage, circa 1942.)
At the time, there was little appetite for a monument to mark such a painful time in Newfoundland history.
Now, Chair and Founder of the Pathways Foundation, Gemma Hickey, says the area needs to be redesigned. They say the existing gateposts are triggering for survivors.
Hickey has been speaking with survivors, municipal and provincial officials and with local sculptor Morgan MacDonald about what can be done in the space. They’re also looking at putting a plaque in place to explain the significance of the site and what happened there.
