Schools in Greater Sudbury will host various events to mark the National Day Truth and Reconciliation on Wednesday. The Rainbow District School Board will begin the day with a sunrise ceremony at Lively District Secondary School beginning at 6:45 a.m. with the school day to begin with a moment of silence. “Staff and students will wear orange as we continue to learn about residential schools and their impact on generations of Indigenous peoples,” said the board’s chief executive officer Bruce Bourget in a news release. “Schools will ensure Indigenous students, staff and families feel supported as we stand together with them during this time of retrospection and reflection.” Students in grades 4-12 will attend the ‘Truth. Resiliency. Hope‘ event at Bell Park for what the board calls age-appropriate activities and teachings. At Laurentian University, a sacred fire and opening drum song will mark the beginning of activities at 8:30 a.m. A keynote address at 10: a.m. will be delivered by Dr. Jenny Kay Dupuis, author, educator, artist and Nipissing First Nation member. A special guest speaker session is scheduled for 1: p.m. with Dr. Alika Lafontaine at the Fraser auditorium. At Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, a sacred fire and sunrise ceremony begins at 7: a.m. Events are also scheduled for Snowdon Park for the Every Child Matters Sacred Memorial at 9 a.m., the Bushplane Heritage Centre at 12 p.m. and a candlelight vigil at the Wawanosh Memorial at 7 p.m. The annual Orange Shirt Day walk in Timmins gets underway at 9 a.m. at the Friendship Centre. Cultural activity and closing remarks will follow a BBQ at noon. Nipissing University in North Bay begins the day with a Sunrise Ceremony at 7 a.m., with an Every Child Matters Walk scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Kiwanis bandshell.
