National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

A Canadian film, The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open, is a quiet, realistic drama. The film follows two Indigenous women who, shaped by different lives, meet by chance as they navigate the aftermath of domestic abuse. Following the screening, join us for a discussion where you can engage and reflect on the themes inspiring the film.

September 12, 7 pm
Location: Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Avenue
Tickets: $25

Buy tickets

Join the Third Annual City of Burnaby Hope and Health Community Camp in honor of Truth and Reconciliation.

September 13, 10 am-1 pm
Location: Burnaby Lake Sports Complex West, 3677 Kensington Avenue
Open to children and youth ages 3 to 18 years

This one-day soccer camp features cultural teachings, training sessions with coaches, mentors and traditional knowledge keepers. Enjoy a fun day of soccer skills, drills and challenges for children and youth of all soccer abilities, as well as arts, crafts, face painting and bouncy castles. It's an opportunity for children and youth to engage in the path to reconciliation. The event is presented in partnership with the Hope and Health Society.

Every participant receives a free custom designed orange jersey and soccer ball. Lunch will be provided for participants at 12:30 pm after a closing ceremony. 

The event is free, but pre-registration is required. No drop-ins. 

Registration for the event opens on August 11. 

Thank you to our community partners: 

• Hope & Health
• EA Sports
• Vancouver Whitecaps
• UBC Thunderbirds
• Harvest Meats

About the jersey and soccer ball design

All participants will receive a custom designed orange soccer jersey and soccer ball. The design Eagle's Embrace represents the spirit of soccer and depicts an eagle embracing the sport. 

The artist, Candace Thomas, is a proud member of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and part of the Coast Salish community of artists. She is the great-granddaughter of the late Chief Dan George who inspired Candy from a young age to follow her talent through her artwork. Candy has a deep connection to the land and waters that surround her home community. Using this gives her strength and inspiration which she uses in her unique designs. Through her community, she stays connected to her ancestors who guide her on her path forward, staying healthy and happy. She hopes to encourage the younger generation to pick up a paint brush or a coloured pencil and share their artistic talents. She would like to acknowledge her teachers Damien George TWN, the late Dan Thomas TWN and Rick Harry of Squamish Nation.

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This beautiful hummingbird pin and colouring sheet symbolizes our dedication to advance reconciliation and acknowledge the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada. To honour children who never returned, and survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. Together, we can honor the past, celebrate the present and build a future rooted in mutual respect and understanding. 

Pick up your free commemorative pin at Burnaby City Hall or any Burnaby recreation centre or library.* 

*Limited quantities. Only while supplies last.

About Hummingbird’s Embrace and the artist

Designed by Indigenous artist Ryan Johnston, Hummingbird’s Embrace features a  hummingbird, soaring in the wind, with its gaze fixed upon a heart. In Coast Salish culture, the hummingbird is a symbol of peace, love, and healing. It teaches us to appreciate the miracles of life and encourages us to focus on positivity amidst challenges. By embodying the spirit of joy and resilience, the hummingbird serves as a messenger, bridging the human and spirit worlds. Reminding us that comfort and healing are always within reach.

Ryan Johnston, an interdisciplinary artist and athlete of mixed Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Celtic descent, merges traditional Coast Salish artistry with contemporary expressions. His work is deeply rooted in the stories and traditions of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh community, and he draws inspiration from the natural world and the dynamic movements within it. Ryan's passion for both art and extreme sports reflects his commitment to creating positive change within his community and informs his vision for reconciliation through this design.

Explore artworks by Indigenous artists from the City of Burnaby Permanent Art Collection. These artworks explore the realities and impacts of residential schools on Indigenous peoples, alongside depictions of Indigenous resurgence that has survived despite colonial harm. The display includes artworks by notable artists Sonny Assu, Joane Cardinal-Schubert, Robert Davidson, Marcy Friesen, Roy Henry Vickers, Michelle Sound, Janice Toulouse and Tania Willard. 

Incorporated into the display are books written by Indigenous authors from the Burnaby Public Library collections. Books by Indigenous authors provide an opportunity to learn about diverse Indigenous cultures, histories and perspectives which are often marginalized or misrepresented in mainstream narratives. These stories provide insights into the experiences of Indigenous peoples, challenging stereotypes and promoting a deeper understanding of reconciliation.
 

We’re lighting up City Hall orange on September 30 to raise awareness of the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada and to honour the children who never returned home, the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.

We invite and welcome the ongoing involvement of artists from Host Nations in shaping the nature of public art in Burnaby. Artists bring knowledge and lived experience to their work, and public art created by Indigenous artists reflect a range of practices and perspectives.

Explore Indigeous public art in Burnaby.

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