It was heartening to see such a great turn out for the 2024 Truth & Reconciliation Day/Orange Shirt Day Awareness Walk.
So many local community agencies, groups, organizations, businesses and citizens came together to make this day possible. It is a choice to collectively recognize this day and the real history of Canada that hopefully moves us forward together on the path to reconciliation.
Seeing so many young people and students taking part in an event like this, through coordination with schools in our area, gives me hope that we will continue to honour residential school survivors and the children who never made it home for generations to come.
On a personal note, living here in Fort Frances and northwestern Ontario has afforded me the great privilege of growing my knowledge understanding of the rich history and culture of Indigenous people, whom I have a new found appreciation and respect for.
I’m sorry that I didn’t know. I’m sorry that I wasn’t listening. I am listening now fully with my ear and my heart. I will alway feel sorrow for what has and is taking place. I hope to contribute in some small way to a better path forward.
