Every Child Matters bus wrap to stay on GRT bus until end of September

You’ll continue to see the bright orange “Every Child Matters” bus wrap on a Grand River Transit bus, until the end of September, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation this year.

Regional council heard the call from the community, to keep the wrap on the bus year-round, rather than only for one month, which was the original plan.

The wrap, featuring artwork from Indigenous artist Tsista Kennedy, was unveiled at the Every Child Matters Walk hosted by the Healing of The Seven Generations, on September 30 last year.

The walk through downtown Kitchener wrapped up with calls for the community to write to their regional councillors to keep the message and symbol driving around the region year-round.

Healing of the Seven Generations alongside GRT reveal #everychildmatters bus wrap to be on bus for one month.

H7G calling for wrap to be on all year, updated by new indigenous artists in following years #NDTR @CityNewsKIT pic.twitter.com/kjhW4BUVfg

— Christine Clark (@CClark570) September 30, 2023

There were also calls to feature a new Indigenous artist each year, and make the wrap permanent.

A decision on that has not been made.

Donna Dubie, the founder of the Healing of the Seven Generations, said she was ‘very excited and happy’ to see the decision by council to keep the wrap on the bus until the end of September.

“I’d like to have a further conversation with the region and GRT about how and what this looks like moving forward,” she said.

She added that she would like to see another wrap on another bus.

“In this day and time, it’s about every child. Every child matters, regardless of nationality or nation. Every child is imperative that it is important.”