Announcing Victoria’s First-Ever National Reconciliation Day Ride

Capital Bike and Victoria Orange Shirt Day are proud to announce the first-ever National Reconciliation Day Ride on September 30^th in Victoria, BC, as part of Go By Bike Week, in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Everyone is invited to wear orange and join us for the National Reconciliation Day Ride on September 30th from 10 AM until noon. This knowledge-sharing ride will start at Centennial Square and will stop at locations of significance to the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen/Songhees) and W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich) People on whose lands we live, work, and ride. We will be sharing stories about these locations so that participants can learn about the histories of places that many of us ride past every day. The ride will return participants to Centennial Square by noon, in time for the start of the Xe xe Smun eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters Ceremony at Centennial Square.

Capital Bike is honoured to be partnering with our friends Eddy Charlie and Kristin Spray of Xe xe Smun eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day to host a ride on the first annual Truth and Reconciliation Day in British Columbia.

“We are proud to organize this group ride. It’s really important to us, as an organization, to support reconciliation in any way we can. Since Fall Go By Bike Week coincides with the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, we felt that we had to do something in recognition of this historic day.  We have a wonderful relationship with Eddy and Kristin, so working with them to organize this special ride felt very appropriate.” says Adam Krupper, Executive Director of Capital Bike.

“It is the right thing to do, to be here, where people want to know more about Canada’s true history. And not just the past but the present too. Huy Ch Q’u Siem Capital bikes for inviting us to join you,” says Kristin Spray of Xe xe Smun eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day. Eddy Charlie adds, “I want to release what is inside of me. All that fear. All that anger. All that pain. I want all of Canada to know why we are the way we are today.”

Woodward and Company Lawyers LLP is generously sponsoring the ride, making it possible for Capital Bike to organize the ride. Eamon Murphy, Managing Partner, Woodward & Company, adds, “We are proud to contribute to the very first National Reconciliation Day Ride, and to participate in an event that serves to educate and raise awareness and respect for the First Nations people whose land we live on. As a law firm that advocates for Indigenous peoples, we are committed to the advancement of truth, reconciliation, and decolonization.”

Joining the Ride is free and everyone is encouraged to join. Participants are encouraged to register for Go By Bike and log their ride at https://gobybikebc.ca/.  For more information, visit: capitalbike.ca

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