Kelowna, West Kelowna mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
People take part in a march on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes)
Kelowna and West Kelowna will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on Wednesday with events focused on residential school history, Indigenous culture and reconciliation.
In Kelowna, flags at city properties and parks will be lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset.
The Okanagan Heritage Museum will host Truth and Reconciliation (Un)learn from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society will hold a gathering from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
West Kelowna is encouraging residents to support Indigenous businesses, artists and authors, learn nsyilxcən and visit the Sncəwips Heritage Museum. The exhibit A National Crime: The Residential School Experience in Canada continues at the West Kelowna branch of the Okanagan Regional Library through Oct. 3.
Residents can also take part in local events organized by Westbank First Nation.
City Hall in Kelowna and West Kelowna city administrative offices will be closed Wednesday and reopen Thursday.
In Kelowna, Parkinson Recreation Centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., while the Glenmore Landfill will operate from 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Cemetery gates will remain open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., although the cemetery administration office will be closed.
BC Transit and garbage collection in West Kelowna will run on their regular schedules.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours residential school survivors and remembers the children who never returned home, while recognizing the lasting impacts of the residential school system and the ongoing work of reconciliation.