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Thousands of Torontonians dressed in orange marched through downtown Toronto on Canada Day to honour the victims of Canada's residential schools.
The event — named the Every Child Matters Walk — began at Dundas Street East and Parliament and ended at Nathan Phillips Square, where they were met by Indigenous speakers, dancers and singers.
Many Canadians have pledged to wear orange on Canada Day in 2021, as part of a growing movement to re-evaluate how Canadians celebrate the day after over a thousand unmarked graves have been found in B.C. and Saskatchewan.
Cities and regions across the country have cancelled or changed their Canada Day plans in light of the recent discoveries near residential schools. Toronto's Canada Day celebrations have been cancelled in 2021, but the decision was made because of the pandemic.
Participants chose to wear orange as a nod to Orange Shirt Day, which also commemorates residential school victims.
Some Indigenous marchers dressed in full regalia, however, with others bringing traditional drums.
The march continued down Dundas Street East and Bay Street until it reached Nathan Phillips Square.
The crowd gathered around the Toronto sign in the square, which will be lit up in orange today in solidarity.
At the square, Indigenous singers and dancers performed for the thousands of people in attendance. Speakers talked to the crowd about the importance of the day, the recent discoveries in B.C. and Saskatchewan and about how to continue reconciliation efforts in Canada.
"Every child matters," the crowd chanted at one point in the afternoon.