Established in 1924 by the Methodist Church of Canada, the Edmonton Indian Residential School was located approximately 16 kilometers northwest of downtown Edmonton, near St. Albert. It was part of the broader Canadian residential school system aimed at assimilating Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. The school operated until its closure in 1968. During its operation, many students experienced harsh conditions, including forced labor, inadequate education, and cultural suppression. The legacy of such institutions has had lasting impacts on Indigenous communities across Canada.

The Edmonton Indian Residential School was built during a period of change during which the Government of Canada was replacing many of the older church-run residential schools with larger, modernized brick buildings. 

By 1930, the Edmonton Indian Residential School had over 200 residents and by the 1950s, children from as far as the Northwest Territories and Yukon were attending the institution. During the 1960s, United Church schools in British Columbia transported students to Alberta to live at the Edmonton Indian Residential School, making up the majority of the residents. 

In 1967, the Government of Canada took over Edmonton Indian Residential School from the Methodist Church but closed it the following year, shortly after a student rebellion. The school remained closed until Poundmaker’s Lodge was asked to take over the building in the early 70s. On July 16, 2000 Poundmaker’s was burned to the ground by an arsonist. Most remaining parts of the building were demolished and removed, leaving four original buildings unaffected by the fire – three homes and the carriage house.

Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres

Today, the former site of the Edmonton Indian Residential School is home to the Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres. Poundmaker’s Lodge is the first addictions treatment centre in Canada for Indigenous Peoples.

In collaboration with Alberta Heritage, the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, the Poundmaker’s Lodge Site Preservation Society is leading work to preserve and commemorate the Edmonton Indian Residential School site.