By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Under the golden hues of early autumn, Bronte Creek Provincial Park became a place of reflection, healing, and community on September 30, as Grandmother’s Voice and ROCK Reach Out Centre for Kids hosted “A Walk to Remember the Children.” Hundreds gathered in orange shirts, forming a circle of remembrance and solidarity to honour the children who never came home from residential schools, the survivors, and their families.
The event began with an opening ceremony led by the Grandmothers of Grandmother’s Voice before the group set out on the Maidens Blush Trail — a winding, accessible path through the forest. Each step along the paved trail became a symbolic act of remembrance and recognition, reinforcing the truth that every child matters.
For Grandmother Renee, the heart of the day was in seeing children connected to the land. “I really enjoyed it today because I saw the children in the woods like it used to be,” she said. “This is what our children need — to feel loved and to be appreciated. Our children need to have, as they say, outdoor classrooms again.”
The event is now in its fifth year and has grown steadily in impact and reach. MP Adam van Koeverden reflected on its importance: “This is the fifth year of the Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, and the fifth year that Grandmother’s Voice has brought the community together to encourage reflection and listening. It’s been a phenomenal gathering every year. I want to thank Grandmother’s Voice for their leadership and for stewarding this.”
He added that Burlington’s Bronte Creek may now be the perfect home for the annual walk: “It’s super accessible, surrounded by nature, and if it grew to be a thousand people, it could be accommodated. Regardless of where it is, though, what matters most is when it is and why it is. And I won’t miss one.”
For musician, filmmaker, and activist Layla Staats, Truth and Reconciliation is not about a single day, but a way of life.
“This isn’t just one day — it’s about how we live, the actions we take. We can’t just say land acknowledgements without action. We need to recognize our role, our responsibility, and move towards healing,” she said.
Staats spoke about reconnecting to teachings that were outlawed in Canada for generations. “Do you say hello to your water every day? Do you sing to it? Do you even think about it when you turn on the tap? These are lessons that were taken from us, and bringing them back is part of Reconciliation. We can’t just sit in shame or guilt. Healing comes when we move forward with love, growth, and respect for all of life.”
Staats also highlighted the power of small acts. “When I go into schools and a child tells me, ‘I said hi to the river today,’ that’s a victory. Those small changes ripple outward, and that’s where transformation begins.”
The words shared throughout the day echoed the message written on Grandmother’s Voice’s website: remembrance must go beyond symbols, beyond photo opportunities. Truth and Reconciliation is not a holiday — it is a reckoning, one that confronts Canada’s colonial past and the ongoing effects of intergenerational trauma. The walk at Bronte Creek reminded participants that every orange shirt is not only a symbol but a warning, a truth spoken for those who could not speak for themselves.
By gathering in ceremony and walking together on the land, the Halton community took another step toward understanding, action, and healing.
As van Koeverden reflected, “Truth and reconciliation is a journey, not a destination. We’re all learning and growing together. If you love something, you help it grow properly. I love Canada, and I want to make sure we are better — more compassionate, more inclusive, and always trying to be better.”
The walk ended as it began, in reflection, song, and the quiet knowledge that remembrance must lead to responsibility. As Grandmother’s Voice reminds us: may this day be more than symbols. May it be medicine. May it be a beginning.
