Calgarians gather downtown for the Orange Shirt Walk to support survivors of residential schools – Calgary | The Canadian News

As Canadians prepare to observe the first Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30, a group from Calgary held a walk and an afternoon of community programming on Saturday.

The Coloring It Forward Reconciliation Society kicked off the day with the third annual Orange Shirt Day walk along Stephen Avenue to honor and remember the victims of Canada’s residential school system.

Organizers say it is a way of showing solidarity with the survivors.

“I think the most important thing is to see indigenous and non-indigenous peoples walking together to honor the survivors of the residential school, the 1960s Scoop survivors and the families who support those survivors and who are trying to deal with the trauma. intergenerational. “Said the executive director of the society, Diana Frost.

“Just to see all the people who come to show their support, show their love and support for positive change.”

Frost said that with the first instance of National Truth and Reconciliation Day on the horizon, this and other Orange Shirt events are more poignant than ever.

She wants to eventually move the annual event to be in line with the legal holiday so that more people can participate.

“The only reason we kept it over the weekend was because I want to wait a little bit longer until more organizations are looking at the statistics. Because this is very important so that the survivors can go out with their families, ”said Frost.

Frost adds that she hopes people will continue to support survivors throughout the year, not just September 30.