A Dresden community group is hoping to bring attention to the importance of inclusion and diversity.
Dresden Shines is organizing the #WeAreCanada event over the course of the next few weeks.
According to group spokesperson Rose Northcott, the initiative will recognize the different cultures and people that make up the fabric of Canada.
From June 18 to July 4, the community will bring attention to several different groups including Indigenous Peoples, Black Lives Matter, the LGBTQ+ community and the Muslim community.
"During those specific days, those colours will also be presented on the Dresden town hall," she explained. "So during the time frame, at night, hopefully, people will come out and see the display of the lighting."
According to Northcott, corresponding flags will also be raised at the building. The group will close out the initiative by lighting up the town hall red and white to celebrate Canada Day.
She said they got the idea following the discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children in an unmarked, undocumented burial site at a former residential school in B.C. and the killings of four members of a Muslim family in London, which police have said was a hate-motivated crime.
Northcott said that by bringing awareness to diversity, she's hopeful the initiative will make at least a small impact on the road to inclusiveness and will encourage Canadians to support one another.
"What we're hoping is just to bring awareness, just to educate and just to get the word going to let people express themselves," she said. "A lot of them I think are feeling that they have to hide, or not come forward or are afraid to speak."
Northcott said she is encouraging residents to get involved as well and is welcoming people to tie a symbolic ribbon around the railings of the Dresden town hall or light up their own homes.
The CK Indigenous Social Planning and Action Table is also planning to host a virtual event on Monday, June 21 in recognition of National Indigenous People’s Day.
The Zoom event will runs from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature presentations and traditional teachings from Indigenous and Chatham-Kent community partners.
You can get a link to register by emailing info@skanaflc.com.
