09-30 National Truth & Reconciliation Day Vigil

Late Thursday afternoon rain threatened to cancel the Community Vigil that Visions planned to mark the first National Truth & Reconciliation Day in the parking lot of the Community Hub on Joyce.

Should we cancel or postpone? As we wavered with indecision, people began arriving. We proceeded: some 22 people came in spite of the rain. Thank you for showing up!

Readers gathered under the front porch, others sat on lawn chairs and held umbrellas, and some people sat in their car with a window rolled down to listen.

Our ceremony was somewhat shorter than originally planned. We began with a Land Acknowledgement. Then, we read aloud a summary of each of the 94 Calls to Action, punctuated by the sound of a drum beat calling us to honour these calls with action. We ended the time with a moment of silence and prayer.

A special thank you, too, to Jane Aikman for preparing all the Call to Action cards, to John Foster for the drumming, and Brian Affleck for the sound.

This was our first community 'event' at the Community Hub on Joyce.

Opening words were spoken

Visions members took turns

National Truth Reconciliation Day

Gathering in cars and in the rain

All calls to action were read

National Truth Reconciliation Day