Kwantlen Polytechnic University will honour the lost Indigenous children and survivors of residential schools by participating in Lighting the Country Orange from September 27 to October 1. The orange lighting displays are featured at KPU’s Surrey and Langley campuses every evening this week.
The displays at KPU’s Surrey campus illuminate the main front entrance and beautifully light up the interior courtyard pond. KPU’s Langley campus features a display of orange lighting along the indigenous artwork in the campus courtyard.
Many city landmarks across British Columbia and Canada will “go orange” on September 30 to raise awareness of the painful past of residential schools and to remember the survivors and lives lost. Going orange represents public commemoration of Canada’s history of residential schools and its continuing impact, which is a crucial step towards reconciliation.
“Lighting our Langley and Surrey campuses orange is a display of solidarity with Indigenous communities,” says Dr. Alan Davis, president and vice chancellor of KPU. “But we who are settlers on this land must do more than simply acknowledge the profound loss of life and culture and ways of being as a result of colonization. We must take time to listen, read, and learn in partnership with Indigenous peoples to figure out what actions are needed for true justice to be served and for true healing to begin.”
In addition to lighting two campuses orange, KPU is today hosting an Indigenous Dialogue Series event on Reconciliation with Radical Thought, Action, and Heart with Len Pierre of the Katzie Nation.