Events guide: How to mark Truth and Reconciliation Day in Vancouver
As Canada marks the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Friday, some British Columbians may be wondering how to spend the day in a meaningful way.
Several events are taking place in Vancouver for those who have the day off to reflect on the past and focus on a path towards reconciliation.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was declared last year following the horrific discovery of hundreds of potential burial sites at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Ground-penetrating radar led to similar discoveries at other former residential schools across the country.
Former Truth and Reconciliation Commission chair Murray Sinclair has estimated some 6,000 children may have died at more than 130 residential schools that were operated across Canada between 1874 and 1996.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was declared as a way for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to honour the children who never made it home as well as residential school survivors and their families.
Here's a quick look at some of the truth and reconciliation events taking place in Vancouver Friday.
Tsleil-Waututh Nation's walk towards reconciliation
Members of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation plan to walk 8.5 kilometres from the former St. Paul's Indian Residential School in North Vancouver to their reserve on Dollarton Highway as they remember the effects and legacy of residential schools.
Nisga'a Ts'amiks Orange Shirt Day
The Nisga'a Ts'amiks Vancouver Society is hosting an Orange Shirt Day event at 1 p.m. on the east side of John Hendry Park to honour the lost children and survivors from the residential school system.
Musqueam First Nation's community lunch, renaming ceremony
Musqueam First Nation is hosting a two-part event to honour those who attended residential schools. There will be a community lunch at the Musqueam Cultural Centre from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., which is open only to the Musqueam community. There will also be a gathering and renaming ceremony open to the public, which will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Musqueam Community Centre. Members will gift a new name to the City of Vancouver to replace Trutch Street in Kitsilano.
UBC's Intergenerational March
The University of British Columbia is holding its Intergenerational March to commemorate Orange Shirt Day from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Indian Residential School History & Dialogue Centre. Bannock and tea will be available for purchase and there will be a special performance by Tsatsu Stalqya (Coastal Wolf Pack).
Orange Shirt Day at Britannia Community Services Centre
Britannia will be hosting its own Orange Shirt Day event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Grandview Park. It will include a ceremony, lunch, drum circle and several other activities to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Orange Shirt Day at Templeton Pool Welcome Garden
A gathering is being held at 2 p.m. at 700 Templeton Drive to mark Orange Shirt Day. Attendees can expect a drumming performance, storytelling by elders and an Indigenous plant walk.
BC Lions Orange Shirt Day game
During the matchup at B.C. Place, members of the Lions and the Ottawa Redblacks will be sporting orange in recognition of the federal statutory holiday. The first 10,000 fans through stadium doors will also receive a complimentary orange shirt.
Orange Shirt Day at Museum of Vancouver
The Museum of Vancouver is offering complimentary admission to anyone wearing an orange shirt to commemorate the legacy of residential schools. Donations will also be accepted on behalf of the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.
Oppenheimer Park's Orange Shirt Day
A free barbecue is being held at Oppenheimer Park at noon to honour the survivors of residential schools. There will also be Indigenous vendors and giveaways. Attendees are asked to wear an orange shirt.
With files from The Canadian Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
One person was killed and 23 others were injured when a bus crashed early Sunday on Interstate 95 in northern Maryland, police said.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Video shows gaggle of geese stopping traffic on Highway 1 near Vancouver
A mother goose and her goslings caused a bit of a traffic jam on a busy stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway near Vancouver Saturday.