Hundreds turn out for unveiling of Every Child Matters crosswalk in Victoria Park

An orangecrosswalk painted with the words "Every Child Matters" wasofficiallyunveiled inVictoria Park Friday afternoon.

The crosswalk, placed at theWater Street andJubilee Drive intersection in downtown Kitchener, is tohonour the lives lostatformer residential schools acrossCanada.

Sheena Merling is behind theEvery Child Matters Honorary Crosswalk project. She said for her, it was more than just a project.It was a "calling,"as she continues her own journey toward healing and reconciliation.

Ahead of the unveiling ceremony, Merling said she was"still in disbelief that this is happening."

"Waves of emotions and there's no exact feeling. All I know is that I have to keep being present in the moment," Merling toldCBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition.

More than 6,300 orange footprints werepaintedon paths along Victoria Park over the summer that led to the crosswalk andtoa reflection area, where a single bench sitsat the centre.

"It led you to that bench, where you can sit down, take a breath, sit with the grandparents and reflect with the crosswalk as well as the water to let go of those emotions we carry silently," she said.

Before a large crowdgathered for the unveiling on Friday,Merlingheld asmaller ceremony when the crosswalk was finally completed earlier this week.

She walked across together with Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Myeengun HenryandBen Willsteed, who is a Fire Keeper at Crow Shield Lodge.

"We felt so many different emotions, people wanting to understand, people supporting," she said.

"As they were placing it on the ground, it reminded me of the [footprints].When we first started I was scared, but then as we completed it, I knew it was just a beautiful start to a new beginning."

Hundreds gathered at Victoria Park

Hundreds of people wearing orange shirts gathered Friday afternoon for the ceremony,led by Henry. There were several elders and guest speakers who spoke at the event, including membersof the Orange Shirt Societywho camefrom B.C to take part.

"Being here today, seeing this, makes my heart strong," said Shannon Henderson, president of the Orange Shirt Society and a residential school survivor.

Following in Merling's footsteps, Henderson said the society will aim to make the orange crosswalk a national movement.

"This is not the last crosswalk that we're going to be doing. We're going to go national," she said.

Several nearby schools also sat in on the ceremony. Students wore orange shirts and some classrooms even made signs for the occasion, like Kenya Stewart's Grade 5/6 students atSuddaby Public School.

"We've been talking a lot about truth and reconciliation and our kids are so passionate about recognizing what's happened and learning about the past," Stewart said. "We felt it was important to give these kids a powerful experience."

As an Afro-Indigenous woman herself, Stewart said it was hard not to get emotional seeing how many people came out.

"It's hard not to cry and I think everyone is feeling that way. Finally being able to recognize what happened and have people believe the story is huge," she said.

First steps on path to reconciliation

Merlingtold CBC Newsshe sees the partnerships and connections formed during the development of the projectasthe first steps on the path toreconciliation.

"I can't speak for every person because everyone is on their own healing journey as I am, but what I was reminded of this morning when I sat here, I sat in the darkness, that the heart will build bridges to other peoples' hearts," she said.

"We'll feel the love from the children. We'll see the allies and the Indigenous community come together. We'll see the connections that have been made."

Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools or by the latest reports.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.

Mental health counselling and crisis support is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Hope for Wellness hotline at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat atwww.hopeforwellness.ca.