Orange Crosswalk unveiling at Regional HQ in Whitby

Durham Region will unveil a commemorative orange crosswalk designed by visual artist, Jon Colwell, a member of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, and an accompanying plaque at Regional Headquarters in Whitby Saturday morning.

The crosswalk and plaque will be the site of a Remembering the Children Memorial, which will take place at the Garden Street entrance at 11:30 a.m. The crosswalk has been planned with the advice and guidance of Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Indigenous community members and organizations and will play a role in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which will be observed September 30.

As Durham Region stated on its website, committing to reconciliation involves learning about Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing and creating “genuine and meaningful relationships” with Indigenous communities. “It is only when we take these steps and embrace reconciliation in our hearts, minds and actions that we can truly create spaces for healing and understanding.”

On September 30, which is also Orange Shirt Day, Canadians will “memorialize and honour” the children taken, the families left behind and the survivors of Canada’s residential school system.

Orange Crosswalk in Pickering

Durham residents are encouraged to listen the stories of survivor and families of survivors like April Andre  and  Joan Trudeau; to reaffirm that Every Child Matters and that we have not forgotten about those left behind; and to commit to identifying acts of colonialism in our society and actively work towards eliminating them.

This crosswalk was created with the advice and guidance of Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Indigenous community members and organizations, and was installed to honour and remember the Indigenous children and families impacted by the residential school system. @MSIFN pic.twitter.com/paRgwbMUYR

— Region of Durham (@RegionofDurham) September 24, 2022

Images of the crosswalk unveiling in Durham are courtesy of video shared by Region of Durham Twitter.