Sept 30 - "Walking, talking history books"

Victoria's Orange Shirt Day

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Good morning !

Today is Truth & Reconciliation Day—a solemn time of reflection, but also a day to honour and uplift those who survived, those who died, and Indigenous cultures as a whole.

More below on the local T&R events, and on the origins and purpose of Victoria’s Orange Shirt Day.

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Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 17 / 6

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 18 / 9

Day after: 🌧️ 14 / 10

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (2/10). Current smoke forecast.

🚘️ Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

How the Victoria Orange Shirt Day started—and the effect it’s having

Eddy Charlie and Kristin Spray on Orange Shirt Day in 2021. Photo: City of Victoria

When Kristin Spray and Eddy Charlie met in an Indigenous Studies course at Camosun College in 2015, they were inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad. Webstad had an orange shirt taken from her when she arrived at a residential school, and in 2013 talked about the shirt as a symbol of freedom from the institutions.

On the Island, five residential schools operated—as late as the 1980s—and more than 200 children are known to have died at them. Spray and Charlie, who is a survivor of Kuper Island himself, felt compelled to do something in Victoria and began organizing their own Orange Shirt Day event.

Charlie says that Elders who experienced trauma in residential schools were initially reluctant to talk, but are now more willing to share their parts of history—and so it falls to others to be willing to listen.

He spoke with Capital Daily about the significance of those stories, and the day honouring them, for last year’s T&R / Orange Shirt Day.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Missing woman: Stella Sharlow-Nundoo, 21, last seen Sept. 20 in downtown Victoria. [Photo / info]

Free parking downtown for T&R day today at parkades and on-street meters. More on Victoria’s holiday closures and changes here.

NEWS

Today’s Truth & Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day events

One of many dancers at last year’s inaugural South Island Powwow. Photo: Ryan Hook / Capital Daily

South Island Powwow | Begins 10am
Honour residential school survivors and celebrate Indigenous culture at this annual event open to all—last year, 10K people attended. Traditional song and dance, local vendors and info booths, bannock to eat, and Xe Xe Smun’eem (Sacred Children) orange shirts available.

Truth and Reconciliation Ride | 9:15am
Cyclists start at Songhees Park—where Songhees members will speak on the effect of the residential school system—and ride to the South Island Powwow.

Sooke Library Orange Shirt Day | 11am
Members ask that non-Indigenous attendees share what they have learned, done, and intend to do to move toward truth and reconciliation.

Bones of Crows at Cinecenta | 5pm, 7:30pm
The unflinching film follows a Cree woman who survived residential school and became a code talker in WWII, and features music from the Victoria Symphony.

Reconcile: Candid truth from survivors | 4:30-7pm
A talk and a screening of We Were Children will highlight the voices of residential school survivors and those taken in the ‘60s scoop.

More details on these and other events here in the web story.

NEWS

Victoria author wins BC/Yukon writing award

Robin Stevenson has written 30 books of fiction and non-fiction for children and teens, with many translated and published abroad.

She is being recognized with the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence for “having written a substantial body of work throughout [her] career and for contributing significantly to the literary community/industry” of BC. Stevenson has won several other awards and been a Governor General’s Literary Awards finalist.

Many of her books tackle social issues, diversity, and milestones of social progress. The jury’s statement on Stevenson described being “particularly moved by the advocacy alive in her stories featuring young LGBTQIA+ characters, and by the activist work Ms. Stevenson does to speak in schools and volunteer in non-profit organizations.”

Another Victoria author, Esi Edugyan, recently led the 2023 Booker Prize judging, which was conducted this past month.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🐾 This week’s lost, found, and spotted pets via the ROAM board.

😄 Saw this play on Sunday and absolutely loved it! Yaga, Kat Sandler's thriller-comedy closes on October 8. Get your tickets here.*

🐝 Bumblebee bombs beach: A surprise cameo in a photo of a Cordova Bay seaweed flush. [Facebook]

🌱 Imagine a new kind of healthcare experience. Warm, welcoming, and designed for families. Focused on prevention and longevity, not just reactive illness care. This is Sprout.*

🤝 Now hiring: Seasonal Visitor Services Staff at Butchart Gardens.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Sherwood closes, but Wind Cries Mary spinoff will take over
As one well-known downtown Victoria spot for food and drink marks its final day, another announces it will move into the space near City Hall. [Tasting Victoria]

Stranger’s kidney saves Metchosin man’s life
Nigel Sutcliffe’s kidney function was down to 10%, until a man who saw him on TV gave up an organ—and gained a lifelong friend. [CHEK]

BC totem pole returned, nearly 100 years after being stolen
The 11-metre, red-cedar Nisga’a Nation pole was taken without permission in 1929 and sold a year later to a museum in Scotland. [CP/CityNews]

🗓️ Things to do

Royals face Cougars tonight at 6pm in the second game of their home opener series. [Tickets]

Nightmare on Wax: Dance all night with this DJ set at Capital Ballroom. Show at 9pm.

Final Pacific FC home game of the regular season: Younger sibling Vancouver FC visits Langford for the fourth leg of the Salish Sea Derby between BC’s two teams. Today 2pm. [Tickets]

Melanin Magic Burlesque Bash: See the all-BIPOC cast perform at this night of burlesque at the Victoria Event Centre. Doors 6pm. Show 7pm.

Vikes host men’s bball tournament: The Guy Vetrie tourney will feature a major UVic rival: the reigning national champions (and winners of 11 of the past 12) Carleton Ravens. [Tickets]

More UVic sports: Soccer, rugby, and field hockey also play this weekend. [Tickets]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: CRD may make you pay to park at parks; VIU eliminates ElderCollege support; flash mob at Uptown. [Capital Daily]

Protesters march to MLA offices in support of old-growth forests. [Capital Daily]

Victoria broker Greg Martel allegedly “conspired” with US investor in fraudulent deal. [Capital Daily]

Specialty food stores in Victoria: Here are 9 of the best shops for imported goods and more. [Tasting Vic]

Can you find the photographer? A couple, who got engaged while hiking in the Kootenays, seek the Victoria woman who snapped photos of it.

That’s it!

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