The Town of Pelham recognizes the significance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, and as such will have a flag raising ceremony. Please join us on September 30th at Town Hall.

Where: Pelham Town Hall  – 20 Pelham Town Square

When: Friday, September 30th 2022 at 7:30AM

What to expect: Members of the community are invited to attend, and those attending are encouraged to wear orange.

The “Every Child Matters” Flag will be raised during this time to celebrate First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures. It is inclusive of all Indigenous communities, and reiterates the importance of bringing awareness to the residential school system.

About the flag that will be raised:

The flag that will be raised has been smudged with sweetgrass and sage to honour the missing and the survivors of residential schools.

Ktunaxa artist Carol Louie provided the art for the feather and ideas for the design. Robert Louie (Ktunaxa) and Denice Louie (Athabascan) completed the design work in collaboration with their summer youth worker Gabe Kobasiuk (Cree). Robert Louie is a residential school survivor. Most of his siblings also went to residential school. “The heart with the broken lines was used to show how the residential school affected our people, our connections, our teachings. Though fractured, the hearts of our people continue and remain strong. And in all of our hearts, at the center of our communities are the little ones, our future – represented by the child’s hand. The eagle feather honours and recognizes all the children who were forced into residential school.”