Island Senior Knits Bears for Reconciliation

Vancouver Island resident, Diana Blaikie, has put her love of knitting toward commemorating Truth and Reconciliation. Blaikie has been knitting little bears with orange t-shirts one by one for several months as her own personal way to honour Indigenous survivors of residential schools and their families. Blaike admits she didn't quite know how to distribute them but, "I thought I'd like to knit bears for children a little closer to home ", says Blaikie.

Blaike had a connection to the Port Alberni Indigenous Policing Service in Port Alberni by way of her knitting group in Qualicum Beach and soon a plan came together to distribute the bears in a meaningful way.

On Friday September 29th 2023, Indigenous Policing Services in Port Alberni gave out the little bears to Kindergarten students at Haahuupayak School on Tseshaht First Nation, in Port Alberni. The children were delighted with the bears and the bears accompanied the class on a long walk to mark National Truth and Reconciliation Day at their school.