Our Lady of Peace Mission

A Site-Specific Art Installation at Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Mission

Heritage Park is proud to host #hopeandhealingcanada, a powerful, travelling art installation by Métis artist Tracey-Mae Chambers. Installed within the Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Mission, this unique work invites reflection, dialogue, and healing in one of the most historically meaningful spaces at the Park.

About the Location

The Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Mission is a faithful replica of a church and mission that existed in the Calgary area during the 1870s. Located in the Pre-Railway Settlement, near the Hudson’s Bay Company Fur Trading Fort and traditional First Nations tipis, the building represents an important chapter in the story of Western Canada. Inside, visitors will find a modest yet deeply evocative space, with a plank floor, stone fireplace, and rustic wooden altar—designed based on historical eyewitness accounts.

During the nineteenth century, missionaries were deeply involved in major historical events like Treaties 6 & 7, the Northwest Rebellion, and the building of the C.P.R. Their work included public service roles such as teaching, translating, and healing, and they contributed to preserving Indigenous languages by creating alphabets and dictionaries. From 1883 to 1996, however, they also operated government-funded residential schools that aimed to assimilate Indigenous children by separating them from their families and cultures—an act now recognized as cultural genocide. These schools caused immense suffering and lasting intergenerational trauma, a legacy still being addressed through ongoing efforts like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its 94 Calls to Action.

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About the Installation

Into this layered historical setting, Tracey-Mae Chambers brings #hopeandhealingcanada—a large-scale knit and crochet installation created from vibrant red fiber. Her work has travelled to over 100 institutions across Canada, including residential school sites, museums, galleries, and government buildings. Each piece is crafted to interact with its surroundings and spark reflection on displacement, decolonization, and reconciliation. The use of red yarn is intentional and symbolic—it embodies life and vitality, as well as the struggles and injustices faced by Indigenous peoples. Bold and weather-resistant, the material endures the elements just as the histories and emotions it represents endure in our collective memory.

As a citizen of the Métis nation of Ontario, Chambers uses this work as a form of self-education and personal reconciliation. Her installations are not just visual experiences but emotional and intellectual invitations—to pause, to question, and to connect.

A Living Dialogue

Placing this contemporary installation within the historical mission space adds depth and urgency to its message. Visitors are encouraged to explore how art, history, and place can work together to foster understanding between Indigenous and settler communities.

#hopeandhealingcanada at Heritage Park reminds us that healing is ongoing—and that community, memory, and hope are threads we can all help weave.

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