Toronto philanthropist donates $100K to Shingwauk's 'crying rock'

Years ago, children taken from their homes and forced to stay at Shingwauk Residential School in Sault Ste. Marie found refuge at the "crying rock" – a mid-sized, reddish boulder sitting within the shadow of the institute itself.

It was here – huddled around the rock, speaking their own language – that kids were able to support one another, trade stories of the people and places they left behind, as whispers of abuse and cruelty swept through the school halls. 

Now, a Brampton philanthropist now wants to commemorate the place and the spirit of those who survived. 

Bill Kanellopoulos, one of the co-founders of the Hellenic Heritage Foundation, has contributed the bulk of a $100,000 donation to preserve this piece of Shingwauk's history.

"We should know the history and ... respect it," Kanellopoulos said. "We should have a place where you can go and make a prayer and connect with the kids and whoever was there before."

"As long as you remember the people, they never die," he said. "Because all these people are survivors."

Kanellopoulos, the landlord of Algoma University's Brampton campus, said he was moved by a visit to the institute's Sault campus, site of the former residential school. Part of the Reclamation of Shingwauk Hall exhibit, the Crying Rock is a reminder of the school's dark history. 

"It's not just a rock. It connects the new and the old, the one generation with the other," he said, adding that all Canadians should learn Shingwauk's history. 

Kanellopoulos said as an immigrant to Canada in the late 60s, he feels a special connection with the kids who found solace around the crying rock. 

"As a country, Canada receives millions of immigrants. We're free to teach our kids our language. We're free to practice our religion. They give you university, the security of your house and your business."

"But all those things at [Shingwauk] happened, we took away from somebody things that were needed."

The donation – $15,000 of which was raised by the HHF on Giving Tuesday – will fund the construction of a gazebo, benches, a wildflower and traditional medicine garden centred around the rock. 

Daisy Kostus, who attended Shingwauk between 1951 and 1964, called the rock "a lifeline" for people at the school.

"We used to sit on that rock as former students and we would go there to try and calm ourselves down from being lonesome for our parents," Kostus said.