Burlington Walk for Reconciliation Set for September 30 at Spencer Smith Park

The Walk for Reconciliation and Peace begins at Spencer Smith Park on Wednesday, September 30, with opening remarks at 5 p.m. from the pavilion at the east end of the park. Local Indigenous community members host the walk, which follows the Waterfront Trail to Beachway Park and closes with a tobacco ceremony.

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and also Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots day inspired by the story of residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad. Anyone coming is asked to wear an orange shirt, and moccasins if they have them.

Spencer Smith Park carries Indigenous work the rest of the year too. Bimose Agaming, an art walk featuring First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists, runs through the park, and the orange crosswalk at Lakeshore Boulevard and Nelson Avenue honours the children of the residential school system. The City lists these alongside Sweetgrass Park and the Healing Forest at Paletta Lakefront Park on its Indigenous projects and partnerships page.

City administrative services are closed that day, which the City describes as its answer to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 80, so staff have time to reflect. Service Burlington and the building, renovating and licensing counter at City Hall are shut, as is the court administration counter at 4085 Palladium Way, and the animal shelter on Industrial Street is closed to appointments. Burlington Transit runs a regular schedule, and recreation facilities stay open for rentals and drop-in programs.