Prince George, BC – Thousands are expected to participate in a Walk for Reconciliation in downtown Vancouver this morning…

Wrapping up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s sixth national event, the walk will end with a celebration at BC Place, which is being transformed into a Ceremonial House for the day. 

The TRC was one of the components to come out of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement negotiated by Ottawa, Aboriginal organizations, former students and the churches.  The Vancouver event was one of seven to be held across the country aimed at creating a positive lasting legacy of the stories and experiences of residential school survivors.

BC Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister, John Rustad, joined Indian Residential School survivors at several events over the past week and will be participating in this morning’s walk.

"Today represents a coming together and healing of many people, survivors and their family members, young and old, as well as non-Aboriginal people – to begin creating a new foundation of respect, acceptance, and renewed faith in each other," says the minister.

"Walking together in reconciliation is part of our collective journey and an opportunity for all of us to make our individual contribution to healing the terrible would left behind by Indian Resident Schools."

More than 150-thousand children, some as young as four years of age, attended government-funded, church-run residential schools.  It is estimated that approximately 80-thousand survivors are still alive today.

Participants at the New Way Forward Celebration at BC Place will be invited to accept a ‘call to action’ and commit to their own reconciliation action plans.