Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation 2026

We invite you to be part of the May 29th Welcome & Opening Remarks, at a new start location this year, the Fort Langley National Historic Site in Fort Langley. This 3-day event provides time for remembering and lamenting for Indigenous children forced to attend residential schools, connection with Indigenous culture, and moving forward on the journey of reconciliation.

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 a chosen route or a solidarity walk in a different location in Canada. We invite you to attend one or all of the free learning events listed below.

This event is a unique opportunity to come together as a community to focus on the call to reconcile with Indigenous peoples. Join us for any/all of the days as we walk in lament and solidarity acknowledging the First Nations people whose families have been affected by the residential schools for many generations. Find more details on our website:

Here's everything you need to know tor REGISTER:

Dates & Details

May 29, 30 and 31 - The walk is 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 on one of the 3 dates - whenever is best for you!
• Reflection Resources: Check our and 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 have provided purple Walk event t-shirts over the past several years. If you have one, we hope you will wear it when you walk.

We have a limited supply of Walk t-shirts available this year. They will be available at at the end of each group walk (Kwantlen First Nation & St. Mary's IRS) and at the Saturday workshop (Mt. Lehman United Church). We will not be placing an order for more this year, so you will have to come to one of these locations to get a free t-shirt. We cannot guarantee that we will have the size that you want.

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

Friday, May 29 | 6:30pm
Dinner & Reconciliation Engagement session - Kwantlen First Nation Longhouse & Cultural Centre, 23907 Gabriel Ln, Langley Twp

Saturday, May 30 | 11am - 1pm | Registration Limit: 30 people
Cedar weaving workshop led by Gracie Kelly at Mt. Lehman United Church, 6256 Mt. Lehman Road, Abbotsford

Sunday, May 31 | 2:30 - 4:15pm
The Reconciliation Journey...Moving Forward Together session - Pekw’Xe:yles Reserve, Mission, BC (former site of St. Mary's IRS - in the chapel)

2. Select a route to walk on May 29, 30 and/or 31.

- 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. The two group walks end at the location of one of our Indigenous-Led events (listed above in section 1).

Friday, May 29 | 5:30pm | 2.5 kms
Opening Remarks & Group Walk - Fort Langley National Historic Site to Kwantlen First Nation longhouse & cultural centre

Sunday, May 31 | 1pm | 1.5 kms
Indigenous Place-Based Group Walk guided by Patti Victor – Significant sites at Fraser River Heritage Park and along the back path 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 29th, 30th or 31st. 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.

Group Walk + Event Special: If people do a group walk and stay for the session, we are going to try to have vehicles available to give those people a ride back to their cars at the beginning location of the walk.

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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.

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