Grande Prairie residents came together for the 3rd annual painting of the crosswalk at 97th Avenue and 101 Street in support of Indigenous people, victims, and survivors of residential schools.
Friendship Centre Executive Director Miranda Laroche says having the crosswalk is very special.
“It’s been a long time coming I believe, you know having a memorial cross for every child matters and for Indigenous people, so it is very special because it is almost like a healing feeling when you come through the crosswalk.”
Laroche says there was a good turnout for this year’s sidewalk painting.
“Every year it gets bigger and bigger, I really appreciate the city of Grande Prairie allowing us to have the crosswalk.”
Organizer Meghan Zatko started the crosswalk back in 2021 to show support to the Indigenous Community, and honour the victims and survivors of residential schools. At least 150,000 children between the ages of 6 and 14 are on record as being forced into residential schools across Canada, where they were stripped of their culture.
The crosswalk includes orange painted handprints, in the same vein as those seen in Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit graphics. This years’ cross walk painting was done on the Day of Friendship for friendship centres across the province.
