Waterloo Region reflects on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with Every Child Matters Walk

The Healing of the Seven Generations is hosting a walk to honour and remember children and to reflect on the tragedies experienced by Indigenous peoples across North and Central America on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Waterloo Region.

The day began at 9:30 a.m. with the unveiling of a new ‘Every Child Matters’ bus wrap design at the Healing of Seven Generations building at 300 Fredrick St. in Kitchener.

The Every Child Matters Walk ends at Victoria Park, with hundreds sporting plenty of orange, down Frederick Street to Weber Street, eventually arriving at the park by way of Queen Street.

Once they arrive at the clocktower, the event will feature speakers, drummers and an opportunity to learn about exactly what Truth and Reconciliation means at around noon.

Executive Director of the Healing of the Seven Generations, Donna Dubie, says the most important thing you can bring to the table today is questions.

“I would want to ask people to take this opportunity to please ask a question,” said Dubie. “We’ll do our best to answer it, and if not, we’ll get the information and get back to you.”

The event will also feature the laying of 215 crosses, dressed with orange ribbons, to remember children who were found buried in Kamloops, B.C. in 2021.

“It’s to remind the people when 215 actually started, it’s been three years,” said Dubie.

She says the Region of Waterloo has more work to do in moving the needle forward on Truth and Reconciliation.

“What is the Region of Waterloo, what is their reconciliation?” asked Dubie. “We can move forward a little bit, we can have conversations, but there is not true reconciliation happening in the Region of Waterloo.”

The public is encouraged to wear orange to Monday’s events and other times of the year when they want to show support.