Hundreds of motorcycle riders rally for residential school survivors on Vancouver Island
Hundreds of motorcycles revved up on Vancouver Island over the weekend to raise awareness for the 215 children who were buried at a former Kamloops residential school site, and to show support for survivors.
On Sunday, residential school survivors, alongside their families and supporters, gathered in Duncan for the rally.
"Today, we ride for them and we ride for all the Indigenous Peoples, and we ride for justice," said organizer Kelli Symonds, before the riders headed off on a 160 kilometre ride across the South Island.
Before the ride began, Victoria Orange Shirt Day organizer and residential school survivor Eddie Charlie sold T-shirts in support of the campaign.
"It's not just a story. It's real," said Charlie. "Children were starved, physically abused, and many of them sexually assaulted."
"So the 215 children is not only the biggest wake up call for Canada, but for our people too, and it gives us the opportunity to talk about our own experience," he said.
Residential school survivor Eddie Charlie is pictured at a motorcycle rally in support of survivors in Duncan: June 20, 2021 (CTV News)
Sunday's motorcycle procession was led by survivors, with family and friends following closely behind.
The sight was an emotional one for Charlie.
"Very moving," he said. "As somebody who was taken away from home as a very tiny child, having an opportunity to see people honour the residential school experience – it's very moving and I can't raise my hands high enough to all the people who came."
Riders cruised from Duncan to Sidney and back again before an afternoon healing ceremony and moment of silence took place.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.