Surrey marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with reflection activities

The City of Surrey is inviting residents to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 by reflecting on the history and impacts of the residential school system. The day coincides with Orange Shirt Day and honours Indigenous Peoples and survivors while remembering children who never returned home.

The city says it encourages residents to reflect meaningfully and support ongoing work toward truth, healing and reconciliation. On Sept. 26, Totest Aleng: Indigenous Learning House will host an Every Child Matters open house, where visitors can learn about the significance of the orange shirt and share what the message means to them. On Sept. 30, City Hall will be illuminated in orange for reflection at Surrey Civic Plaza, and residents are encouraged to wear orange in honour of residential school survivors.

Residents can also explore Surrey’s Indigenous Public Art Collection, including Rain Pierre’s vinyl-wrap design at the Clayton Community Centre library, Joan Williams’ ȻEN,TOEL: Being together mural at City Centre Library, and Robert Davidson’s Eagle Calling sculpture at Frank Hurt Park, 13828 77 Ave. The full collection is listed at tinyurl.com/SurreyIndigenousPublicArt.

The Museum of Surrey’s Indigenous Hall, at 17710 56A Ave., is presenting Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of Residential Schools. Produced by the Legacy of Hope Foundation with Semiahmoo First Nation, Kwantlen First Nation and Katzie First Nation, the exhibition uses archival photographs, documents and artifacts to trace the 125-year history of the residential school system. More information is available at tinyurl.com/IndigenousMuseumSurrey and through surrey.ca or tinyurl.com/SurreyTRD.