In 1939, the Industrial School was put under the control of the federal government, who converted it into a sanatorium to treat tuberculosis cases, which were a rising concern amongst the Aboriginal population. Many of the teachers took up work at the Alberni institution. Once the hospital was shut down, the buildings were used by the Armed Forces as a training facility. After an incredibly long journey, 24 Stó:Lō First Nations formed the Coqualeetza Cultural Centre on the land to provide cultural education to their members. The goal of the newly implemented centre is “the promoting, preserving, and interpreting of the Stó:Lō lifestyle, language, traditions, and heritage from the Stó:Lō point of view”. The centre seeks to tell the story of the land on which it was built. They do this through strengthening cultural awareness between the Stó:Lō and the public.The property has been returned to the Stó:Lō nation and the new buildings signify a new chapter in the history books of Canadians in which reconciliation is promoted. A community that once saw cultural differences as a burden is now embracing those differences as a strength. Many people will drive by these buildings on Vedder road, unaware of what came before the Stó:Lō Cultural Centre. By educating the public on the history of this land, the Stó:Lō Nation is doing their part in honouring the heroes who lived through the Coqualeetza residential school.
