About 500 Delta students took part in the second annual Walk for Truth & Reconciliation on Sept. 29, culminating in a ceremony livestreamed district-wide.
Student Participation Spreads Across Delta
On Monday morning (Sept. 29), approximately 500 students from across Delta engaged in the school district’s second annual walk to honour Truth and Reconciliation. The main walk commenced at North Delta Secondary School, with students from Richardson, McCloskey, Gray, Jarvis and Chalmers elementary schools joining in later. Schools unable to participate in the main route organized neighbourhood walks.
By encouraging widespread engagement, the Delta School District sought to bring the message of reconciliation to all corners of the community.
Rainy Route, Unified Purpose
Despite a rainy morning, the walk proceeded as planned around the North Delta neighbourhood before returning to NDSS. The students’ movement through the community—many wearing orange shirts—was intentionally designed to be visible, serving both as a symbolic act and a reminder to residents of ongoing reconciliation efforts.
As Diane Jubinville, district principal of Indigenous education, remarked, the walk honours “the children who never returned home” and honours survivors, families and communities affected by residential schools.
Livestream Connects Every School
Upon arriving at the NDSS theatre, participants and guests gathered for a ceremony which was livestreamed to all public schools across the district. This ensured students unable to physically walk could still engage in the commemoration.
The use of the district-wide livestream reflects an effort to unify the message and reach all students and staff, regardless of their location.
Ceremony Led by Indigenous Voices
The ceremony was hosted by Nathan Wilson, Indigenous cultural mentor for the district, with an opening by Connie Adams of Tsawwassen First Nation. Together, they guided attendees in singing the Coast Salish anthem.
Keynote speeches were delivered by Tsawwassen First Nation Councillor Valerie Cross and Kung Jaadee (Roberta Kennedy), a renowned First Nations storyteller, educator, and author. Their remarks aimed to foster respect, understanding, and connection between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
Student Voices Represent Diverse Languages
Students actively shaped the program. Samera Gabriel (Grade 10) and Nav Rai (Grade 12) served as masters of ceremony. Five additional students spoke in seven different languages—Hindi, Punjabi, Mandarin, Farsi, Serbo-Croatian, Hunquminum and English—representing the seven directions (north, south, east, west, up, down, inward).
Elementary students joined in drumming in memory of children who attended residential schools, and senior students (Jeet Samtani, Yousra Ahmadi, Madison Batch) shared personal commitments and actions toward reconciliation.
District’s Ongoing Commitment
Val Windsor, school board vice-chair, noted the walk “continues to be a powerful opportunity for students and staff … to come together in solidarity and learning.” The event reiterates the district’s commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and to fostering stronger relationships with Indigenous communities.
Windsor emphasized that through collective walking and conversation, deeper awareness may be encouraged—especially among youth—as Delta moves forward in its reconciliation journey.
Your voice. Your city. Your news. Stay connected with Surrey Speak.
