Honoring Truth and Reconciliation: Events and Activities to Reflect and Learn
As we reflect on Truth and Reconciliation Day, we honor the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlil̓wətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, on whose lands we are privileged to live and work.
At Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland, we are deeply committed to fostering connections and showing up for one another. On this day, we recognize the importance of reconciliation, acknowledging the lasting impacts of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples, especially the youth we mentor. We honor their stories, cultures, and strengths, and pledge to continue learning, listening, and taking meaningful steps toward healing and reconciliation.
May we all walk the path of reconciliation with honesty, respect, and open hearts.
In recognition of the significance of Truth and Reconciliation Day, we have gathered a list of local events and activities to help our community learn, reflect, and take part in honoring Indigenous histories, cultures, and resilience. We invite you to explore these opportunities and deepen your commitment to reconciliation.
Burnaby:
- Toonie Skates
- September 30, 2024
- All ages welcome, $2 per person (free for children 3 and under).
- Skates and helmets included in admission free
- Bill Copeland Sports Centre
- 3676 Kensington Avenue
- 11:30am-1pm and 1:30pm-3pm
- Kensington Complex
- 6159 Curtis Street
- 4pm-5:30pm and 6m -7:30pm
- Qwalena
- Thursday, September 26th and Friday, September 27th
- Doors open at 7am and the program begins at 7:30pm
- Cost: $25
- Buy tickets here for Thursday and buy tickets here for Friday
- Indigenous storyteller Dallas Yellowfly brings us “Qwalena: The Wild Woman Who Steals Children” to life in this unique and scary theatrical multimedia storytelling performance. The purpose of this performance is to promote anti-racism, create awareness of the Indian Act and the intergenerational impacts of Residential Schools while strengthening communities through education. By blending oral tradition, multimedia, mature content and a bit of humour, Yellowfly hopes to promote an understanding of present day impacts of the Indian Act and how Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island are trying to break the cycles of oppression caused by Residential Schools. Audience 13 + years.
Coquitlam:
- Cedar Friendship Bracelet Workshop
- Date: Saturday, September 28th
- Time: 2pm-2:50pm and 3pm-3:50pm
- Please call 604-927-4386 to register
- Location: Town Centre Park Community Centre
- Finding Your Voice: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Date: September 30, 2024 from 1pm-5pm
- Location: 1120 Brunette Avenue, Coquitlam
- Free
- Explore what makes each person unique and discover how to spread kindness through artmaking. Christine Mackenzie, an Indigenous artist, facilitator, speaker and curator, will share her experience as an Indigenous woman and the importance of Truth and Reconciliation. Learn how to use different art mediums by creating a small, mixed media art piece to take home as a reminder of the event.
- Participants May sign up for Workshop Times
- Towards Truth and Reconciliation: Comic Workshop with Jordanna George
- Location: 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam-Studio A
- Date: Friday, September 27th at 6:30pm-8:30pm
- Free, register here
New Westminster:
- Voices of our Children teaching Pow Wow
- Date: September 30th
- 12pm-4pm in Pier Park (430 Front Street, New Westminster)
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Learning Opportunity: Downstream Where the Waters Mix Exhibition (all ages)
- Date: September 30, 2024 from 10am-5pm
- Location: New Westminster Museum-3rd Floor of Anvil Centre-777 Columbia Street
- Free
- More information click here
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Teaching Powow
- September 30, 2024
- 12pm-4pm
- Queens Park, New Westminster near the Baseball Field
- Please bring your own water bottle, chair, and wear an orange shirt
- Food trucks and vendors
- All ages welcome
North Vancouver:
- Create and Connect: Truth and Reconciliation Day at MONOVA
- Date: September 30th from 10am-4pm
- Location: Monova Museum of North Vancouver-115 West Esplanade North Vancouver
- FREE – for tickets click here
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Film Series
- Location: Polygon Gallery-113 Carries Cates Court, North Vancouver
- Date: Sunday, September 29th from 10-2:30pm
- For more information click here
Port Moody:
- The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Date: Monday, September 30th at 11am
- Location: Noons Creek Hatchery
- More information click here
Richmond:
- Richmond Public Library Family Storytime
- All Ages
- Date: Monday, September 30th at 10:30am-11am and 1pm-1:30pm
- Location: Brighouse Library- Kid’s Program Room (Main floor)
- Cost: Free, no registration required
- We will be featuring picture books written by Indigenous authors and at two Storytimes during the day. Detail about Family Storytime can be found on the Richmond Public Library website.
Surrey:
- Orange Shirt Day in Surrey
- Date: September 27, 2024 from 3pm-5pm
- Location: Holland Park, Surrey
Vancouver:
- Culture Club at MOA: Cedar Hearts for Reconciliation
- Event by Museum of Anthropology
- Date: Sunday, September 29, 2024 from 11am-2pm
- Location: 6393 NW Marina Dr., Vancouver, BC
- Tickets
- $35 Adults and $18 for Youth
- $30 for UBC staff, students, faculty
- Free for Indigenous People
- Intergenerational March to commemorate Orange Shirt Day (UBC)
- Monday, September 30th, 2024 from 11:45am-3pm
- Participants father at 1956 Main Mall on UBC Campus
- For more information click here
- NCTR Lunch and Learn Webinar
- Date: Friday, September 27th at 10am-12pm
- Location: UBC Resdental School History and Dialogue Centre- 1985 Learner’s Walk Vancouver, BC V6T1Z1
- Free, reserve a spot here
- Truth and Reconciliation Day: NFB Film Screenings
- The Museum of Vancouver and the National Film Board are partnering to screen films by Indigenous directors for Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30th. The films chosen focus on how Indigenous communities are coming together to heal and move forward.
- Event Schedule:
- September 30, 2024
- 10:30am: WaaPake (Tomorrow)
- 1:00pm: Our People Will Be Healed
- Location: Museum of Vancouver
- September 30, 2024
- FREE event
- Option to donate to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS)
- Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society Orange Shirt Day Luncheon
- Friday, September 27, 2024 from 10am-2pm
- Location: 449 E Hasting St., Vancouver