Indigenous organization asks region to have second Every Child Matters bus wrap

National Truth and Reconciliation Day is less than a month away, and the founder of the Healing of the Seven Generations is calling on the region to have a second bus wrap.

Donna Dubie, the founder and executive director of the healing of the Seven Generations, said the region wants to discard the current Every Child Matters Wrap when they install the new one this month. She wants the wrap to stay on the first bus that can be used in Cambridge and for this year’s wrap to go on a second bus that will be used in Kitchener and Waterloo.

“I’m very upset they’re planning to do that,” said Dubie. “You can’t have enough education about what Every Child Matters means.”

Dubie said a petition has been started to get a second bus, adding they are hoping to get enough signatures by September 30 before the old wrap is taken off.

“The new wrap is probably going to go on the bus any time between now and the 15th so it’s on the bus for the 30th,” said Dubie.

Once they have enough signatures, Dubie said they plan to go to regional council.

The first orange Every Child Matters bus wrap was installed on a GRT bus last year, and feature the artwork of a local artist. In February, the region decided to keep the wrap on until September. The new wrap will also stay on the bus year-round.

This year’s bus wrap design is set to be unveiled on National Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30 at 10 a.m. at the Healing of the Seven Generations location at 300 Frederick St. in Kitchener.

As part of National Truth and Reconciliation Day, Dubie said the Healing of the Seven Generations will be selling Every Child Matters T-shirts. Last year, they raised approximately $18,000 in sales, with all the money going towards the the Save the Evidence campaign at the Mohawk Institute.