Thousands march in Vancouver's Walk for Reconciliation
The 2-kilometre Walk for Reconciliation began downtown and ended in Strathcona Park
Thousands of people marched in Vancouver's Walk for Reconciliation on Sunday, completing a two-kilometre walk from Queen Elizabeth Plaza downtown to Strathcona Park.
The walk capped off B.C.'s annual Reconciliation Week — which honours residential school survivors and addresses the work that must be done in order to meet goals established by Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The commission detailed the experiences of Indigenous students who were forced to attend residential schools, and made 94 recommendations.
A reconciliation expo in the park featured artistic performances, Indigenous artisans, art installations, food trucks and more. Distinguished guests were also honoured and blanketed in a traditional ceremony.
The last Walk for Reconciliation, held in 2013, attracted over 70,000 people.
The walk was the third and final Canada 150+ Signature Event hosted by the City of Vancouver, in partnership with the federal government and Reconciliation Canada.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Reconciliation?src=hash">#Reconciliation</a> walk from downtown <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vancouver?src=hash">#Vancouver</a> to Strathcona park caps off <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/reconciliationweek?src=hash">#reconciliationweek</a> <a href="https://t.co/tHqHae58nj">pic.twitter.com/tHqHae58nj</a>
—@jonvhernandezResidential school survivor Chief Robert Jospeh ahead of today's reconciliation walk in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yvr?src=hash">#yvr</a> <a href="https://t.co/LCH9wOK1PW">pic.twitter.com/LCH9wOK1PW</a>
—@briarstewart<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/reconcilaitonwalk?src=hash">#reconcilaitonwalk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yvr?src=hash">#yvr</a> <a href="https://t.co/FbYqAv8L3w">pic.twitter.com/FbYqAv8L3w</a>
—@briarstewartIn no uncertain terms. This is huge! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WalkforReconciliation?src=hash">#WalkforReconciliation</a> <a href="https://t.co/KmFIiiBUnU">pic.twitter.com/KmFIiiBUnU</a>
—@MorehuRMy heart is full seeing my Indigenous family, including my Elders, with <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorGregor">@MayorGregor</a> at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WalkforReconciliation?src=hash">#WalkforReconciliation</a> in Vancouver. <a href="https://t.co/15eYfCaDUT">pic.twitter.com/15eYfCaDUT</a>
—@stina_grayBeauty morning and wonderful spirit <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WalkforReconciliation?src=hash">#WalkforReconciliation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/namwayut?src=hash">#namwayut</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vancity?src=hash">#vancity</a> <a href="https://t.co/n3RCFHFqb8">pic.twitter.com/n3RCFHFqb8</a>
—@MrfbyrneBlanketing ceremony at the conclusion of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/reconciliationwalk?src=hash">#reconciliationwalk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yvr?src=hash">#yvr</a> <a href="https://t.co/Tn5neNaWzg">pic.twitter.com/Tn5neNaWzg</a>
—@briarstewart