Organizers of the pope’s upcoming visit to Alberta are asking people to arrive early to events and to follow the rules so local school survivors, elders and youth can visit with dignity in a spirit of reconciliation and healing.
On July 25 and July 26, people from around the country and the world are expected to flock to the Edmonton area, where 85-year-old Pope Francis is scheduled to meet and apologize to residential school survivors, celebrate Mass and participate in a pilgrimage . The pope will then make stops in the Quebec City and Iqaluit area.
Representatives from the province, the city of Edmonton, two police departments and coordinators of the papal visit said during a news conference Thursday that cooperation from the public will be needed. There will be multiple road closures, parking will not be available at some events, and overnight camping will not be permitted at event sites.
“It’s a really emotional event as well as a solemn one,” said Anne Wildcat, who coordinated the pope’s visit to the former site of one of Canada’s largest residential schools in Maskwatzis, south of Edmonton.
“An incredible amount of logistics has gone into this event. When we date, we need to keep reminding ourselves that there are emotions involved. This is not just a visit .. and a few words. There are many prayers, much hope. This will help many survivors move forward.”
Marion Hagarty-France, Alberta site coordinator for the papal visit, said papal visits usually come after years of planning.
“We had about four months,” she said.
The pope will attend four events in Alberta after arriving at Edmonton International Airport in 10 days. The Queen Elizabeth II Expressway will be temporarily closed before, during and after the Pope’s motorcade takes him from the airport to where he is staying.
“As is customary with the visits of all foreign dignitaries, security for Pope Francis is being managed by the RCMP in close cooperation with the Vatican,” Larissa Waller, spokeswoman for the papal visit, said in an email.
“Given the nature of this work, it would be inappropriate to discuss any specifics.”
The day after his arrival, organizers expect a crowd of around 15,000 people at the first event in Maskvatsis, where the pope is due to apologize to survivors. Organizers said there was no parking. Overnight camping is only available in nearby communities offering space, and those who need to do so must register in advance.
Some roads taking the pope back and forth from Maskwatzis and Edmonton will again be temporarily closed for his motorcade.
Later that day, he is scheduled to meet with parishioners at a church in Edmonton that practices Catholicism with local rituals and symbols. This event is by invitation only.
On the second day of his visit to Alberta, the pope will participate in Mass at Commonwealth Stadium with about 64,000 people.
The final event, a pilgrimage, is to be held this afternoon at Lac Ste. Ann, Alta., where 25,000 people are expected. Many are expected to walk to the county in keeping with pilgrim tradition. Some were also asked to check in with nearby communities that have made room for overnight camping.
Organizers said there will be shuttle buses for attendees to travel to and from various communities. Participants can register for the services online.
“We need people to sign up so we can figure out how many buses (there are) so we can get people there in a timely manner,” said Shane Schreiber, assistant deputy secretary for parks.
“A lot of people coming to the pilgrimage are coming from up north, from northern Manitoba, and they’ll bring their own buses. We are asking those people to register their buses as well,” added Hagarty-France.
“We require registration and this is simply to manage capacity.”
The city said people can use their registration tickets to ride public transit for free to city events.
“A number of road closures, detours, parking restrictions, transit adjustments will also be in effect during the papal visit,” said Nicole Poirier, director of civic events and festivals for the City of Edmonton.
Schreiber said during the press conference that the government has invested up to $20 million to pave roads and upgrade infrastructure in the various communities the pope will visit.
The move was criticized by many, including Crown and Indigenous Affairs Minister Mark Miller, while in Washington on Thursday.
“Importantly, as part of investing in infrastructure in local communities, these provinces are stepping up,” Miller said.
“It shouldn’t take a visit (from) the Pope to pave the way. It’s a reactionary approach to things.”
Schreiber said the province hopes to share the cost of the improvements with others.
Haggarty-France said the archdiocese is raising up to $18 million for the pope’s visit.
She said the organizers are worrying day and night to ensure the smooth running of the events.
“The Holy Father … is determined to get here, but we also need to keep him safe and able to make the whole journey,” she said. “There are many plans. It all comes down to the 30-second increment of how to get there.”
“We’re hoping to get it roughly right versus exactly wrong.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 14, 2022.
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This story was produced with the financial assistance of Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship.
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