Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation 2025

Welcome to the Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation 2025 – 10th Anniversary Event!

Join us on Friday, May 30, 31 and June 1

We invite you to be part of the May 30th Welcome & Opening Remarks at United Church-St. Andrew's in Fort Langley. This 3-day event provides time for reflection, connection, and healing. Some of us will be walking on the land of the Sto:lo peoples in Group Walks, while others will walk with their families & friends on their own chosen route. We hope you will attend one or all of the learning events. The Walk weekend ends on Sunday, June 1 with a special Gathering of Lament and Hope (location TBA).

This event is a unique opportunity to come together as a community and reconcile with the land, history, and each other. Let's take this journey towards understanding and unity.

Join us for any/all of the days as we walk in lament and solidarity acknowledging the First Nations brothers and sisters whose families have been affected by the residential schools for many generations. As anyone of our family have been affected, we are all affected. Find more details on our website: reconciliationwalk.com

Here's everything you need to know tor register!

Dates & Details

May 30, 31, and June 1 - This year's walk will be a combination event. We have two group walks, or you can choose to do your own self-guided walk(s) choosing one or more of the posted routes, or do a solidarity walk in your own community.

The walk event features:

• Maps: Availiable on our website - see the official route and family-friendly walks.
• Flexible timing: Start your walk at any time - whenever is best for you!
• Reflection Resources: Check our website and Facebook page for Indigenous information, stories, and videos for you to read or watch before and during the Walk.

1. Register for the Walk and Events

We would like everyone to wear the Walk event t-shirt when they walk. Please let us know what size t-shirt you would like when you register.

Free T-shirts - We will be providing an event t-shirt for new walkers and those who didn't receive one previously. You can register your size and choose the location you will pick it up at. If you still have your Reconciliation Walk t-shirt from a past year, please use it again this year. (We didn't include a date on the t-shirt so it could be worn for future walks.)

Indigenous-Led or Learning Events - Attend one of the Indigenous learning events. Please choose the event(s) you plan to attend. Events may no longer be available once we reach maximum seating capacity.

Friday, May 30 | 6:30pm
Dinner & Reconciliation Engagement session - Kwantlen First Nation Longhouse & Cultural Centre, 23907 Gabriel Ln, Langley Twp

Saturday, May 31 | 12:45pm
Indigenous Plant Walk led by Muriel Victor - starting at Mt. Lehman United Church, 6256 Mt. Lehman Road to the end location, Douglas-Taylor Park, 30801 Harris Rd., Abbotsford

Saturday, May 31 | 3:30-5:30pm
Sacred Spaces session by Darla Rasmussen - The Gathering Church, 2285 Clearbrook Rd, Abbotsford

Sunday, June 1 | 2:30pm
TRC Calls to Action - Gathering of Lament and Hope - location TBA (Possibly site of St. Mary's IRS or X̱á:ytem Historic Site - both in Mission, BC)

2. Select a route to walk on May 30, 31, or June 1.

- Official Route Options:

Route 1 | ~ 7km | View Map
Fort Langley National Historic Site to The Dyke (88th and Trans Canada Trail)

Route 2 | ~ 6.5km | View Map
The Dyke (88th and Trans Canada Trail) to McTavish Road

Route 3 | ~ 6.5km | View Map
McTavish Road to Mt. Lehman Road

Route 4 | ~ 5km | View Map
Mt. Lehman Road to Trans Canada Trail Parking Lot

Route 5 | ~ 8km | View Map
Trans Canada Trail Parking Lot to (go under the Mission bridge) Riverside Road

Route 6 | ~ 5.5km | View Map
Timberlake Street, Mission to Fraser River Heritage Park

Route 7 | ~ 1.5km | View Map
Fraser River Heritage Park to to Pekw’Xe:yles Reserve (former St. Mary’s Residential School)

- Or Walk any portion of the walk. Pick a starting point on the map and follow the route to your stopping point. Please post on the Facebook event page where you started and stopped.

- Group Walks: We have a two group walks planned during the Walk weekend. We will gather at a designated starting point to listen to some opening remarks. We will walk together, taking time to talk and pray for reconciliation. The two group walks end at the location of one of our Indigenous-Led events (listed above in section 1).

Friday, May 30 | 5:30pm | 2.3 kms
Opening Remarks & Group Walk - United Church-St. Andrew's Chapel to Kwantlen First Nation longhouse & cultural centre

Sunday, May 26 | 1pm | 1.5 kms
St.Mary's IRS history shared by Sto:lo Historian, Sonny McHalsie - Fraser River Heritage Park to Pekw’Xe:yles Reserve (former St. Mary’s Residential School)

- Solidarity Route: If you live outside of the Fraser Valley area, please join us by choosing to do a walk in your community on May 30th, 31st, or June 1st. Let us know on the Facebook event page where you walked and how many kilometers.

- Family Friendly Routes: Here are several family-friendly route options. The routes are off main roads away from traffic - along city trails.

*View the Family Route: Fort Langley

*View the Family Route: Langley Arboretum

*View the Family Friendly Route: Mill Lake Park (Abbotsford)

*View the Family Friendly Route: Vedder River Trail (Chilliwack)

If you can't walk and even if you are walking, please join us by reading/watching the Indigenous information, stories, and videos we will post throughout the week prior to the walk and during the walk. Let us know if you took the time to review these resources by posting a comment on the Facebook event.

3. Join the Facebook Event and post photos letting us know you where you walked.

Send us a photo, video, selfie, text, and post the starting point of your walk and your stopping point. Also, share any other fun photos along your walk to post on the Facebook event page!

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Notes for Walkers: There is no designated parking for this event or any parking spots at the beginning of any of the routes. Also, there is no vehicle at the end of your chosen route to take you back to where you began your walk, so you may have to walk back unless you arrange transportation for yourself. There are only three public restrooms along the official route and they are only open during their designated hours: one at the Fort in Fort Langley, one at the Matsqui park area under the Mission bridge, and one at Heritage Park in Mission. Lastly, you may want to drive the route before choosing to register to walk it, to see the length and if there are any steep slopes or inclines in the section of the route.

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The Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation event is an ecumenical event in partnership with the Diocese of New Westminster, Langley Mennonite Fellowship Church, Mennonite Central Committee BC, Mennonite Church British Columbia, Mt. Lehman United Church, St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, The Gathering Church, United Churches of Langley, and Willoughby Christian Reformed Church.