Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Feb 26/99) - The survivors of Grollier Hall returned to the former residential school Feb. 21 to release pent-up emotions before the structure was razed.

About 35 people including former students, counsellors and police, privately toured the facility, going through the sections from junior boys, junior girls, senior girls and then senior boys.

And according to Grollier Hall healing circle member Lawrence Norbert, many commented how there was little tension until they arrived at the senior boys' section.

"Then it was a very cold and eerie feeling," Norbert says of the area once supervised by convicted sex offender Paul Leroux.

"A lot of the guys took their frustration out and their anger in Paul Leroux's room. They were smashing it with sledgehammers. We had axes and we just went at it."

Everyone who wanted to take a turn in the destruction did -- even other family members and wives.

Before and after the tour and a fire ceremony outside the former school, the group received support from family counsellors.

A healing circle member read the names of those who have committed suicide or have otherwise died since attending the former Catholic Church facility, Norbert says.

A meal with drum dancing finished off the day.

"It turned out to be a very, very positive experience for the former students and their families," Norbert says.

Aside from the group's own videographer, media weren't allowed on the tour.

Demolition contractor Sam Kassem said he would demolish the old school as soon as possible.