The candlelight vigil will be held June 10 at Wilkie Memorial Park. (Google Maps)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Vigil to remember

Candlelight vigil planned in Wilkie to honour residential school children

Jun 10, 2021 | 11:00 AM

The Wilkie and area community will be coming together for a candlelight vigil tonight to honour the 215 children recently found buried at the Kamloops, B.C., residential school site.

The event will take place at 8 p.m. at the south entrance of Wilkie Memorial Park, located at Main Street and Fourth Avenue.

The vigil is being organized by town residents Helen Urlacher and her friend Valentina Fox.

“We thought this would be the best thing to do, given the circumstances,” Urlacher said.

She said they wanted to show that Wilkie is standing in solidarity with all Indigenous communities, “not only for families that lost loved ones in Kamloops, but for everyone in our own province of Saskatchewan who have lost loved ones too or has experienced residential school.

Fond Memories

North Stars' 20-year-olds reflect on junior hockey experience: Part 1

15h ago

Trades in Sask.

Skilled trades need not limited to building homes

Apr 17, 2024

Battlefords Volleyball Club

13U BVC Impact take provincial silver in Warman

Apr 17, 2024

“We just want to show our solidarity, our peace and our condolences, and hope that nothing like this ever happens again. We’re stronger standing together,” Urlacher said.

Those attending are asked to follow the province’s COVID-19 protocols by wearing a mask and maintaining the required social distancing.

The organizers are advising the public the event might be recorded for Facebook Live.

Urlacher, who is also a Town of Wilkie councillor, will read a statement on behalf of the town during the vigil.

A delegate from Red Pheasant Cree Nation is expected to attend. A Métis representative from Lloydminster, as well as the Wilkie United Church Minister, will also be speaking.

The vigil will also include a 2:15 moment of silence, to recognize the 215 children who died.

People are asked to bring a candle to light, and perhaps a pair of shoes to place at the Memorial Park to symbolize the children who lost their lives in residential schools. All shoes will be donated after the vigil to a charity for anyone to use them.

Urlacher mentioned a thank you to a local new business owner, Suki Pangalia, who made a donation to purchase a wreath for the vigil.

“We would like to light up the sky and pay our respects to the discovery of the 215 children that were recently found in a mass grave by a former residential school in Kamloops,” Urlacher said. “Let’s light up the heavens to help the children find their way home.”

–

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow