THUNDER BAY — The City of Thunder Bay is inviting residents to participate in activities Thursday to recognize Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sept. 30, a tree-planting ceremony will take place in Vickers Park.
This will mark the beginning of a memorial grove in the park.
It's to commemorate the children of the residential schools system, and to honour survivors and their families.
The event was planned with input from the city's Anishinaabe Elders Advisory Council, and accompanies a tree seedling community giveaway also run by the city.
Cedar seedlings will be distributed at the event for anyone who wishes to plant their own tree.
Participants will include Mayor Bill Mauro, Councillor Kirsten Oliver, Chief Peter Collins of Fort William First Nation, and Elder Kerry McLaughlin of the city's Anishinaabe Elders Advisory Council.
A second event will take place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday in the Marina Park Festival Area.
The city is hosting community activities and the screening of Indian Horse, a film about the story of a young boy and his journey through survival at Indian Residential School.
The official opening and remarks will happen at 5 p.m., with the film screening at 6:30 p.m.
Activities at the opening ceremony will include words of reconciliation from a residential school survivor, a drum group and flutist, and Indigenous film trailers.
Tickets to this event are required but they are free, and can be obtained through the city website.
Participants will also be able to enjoy an array of family-oriented activities such as crafts, information booths, giveaways and food vendors.
Attendees are encouraged to wear orange and to bring chairs and a blanket.
Both the tree-planting ceremony and the event at Marina Park will be livestreamed on the City of Thunder Bay Facebook page and Indigenous Relations Facebook page.
At Monday evening's city council meeting, councillors will hold a moment of silence to honour the children lost to residential schools, and their legacy of trauma.
The lights at City Hall will also shine orange through the balance of the week.
The city is providing free cedar seedlings from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday this week at the Lily Street Community Garden and at the Volunteer Pool Urban Farm. On Wednesday, the seedlings will also be available at the Thunder Bay Country Market in the Dove Building at the CLE grounds, from 3:30 to 6:30 pm.
Cedar is one of the medicines found on the Anishinaabe medicine wheel which represents healing and protection.
