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Beauty Not Ashes:  Two brothers wishing to contribute to the beauty of the tribute instead of mourning. A cluster of dandelion flowers offered up as a garment of praise rather than a spirit of despair.

Thank you Finn and Ethan!

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The beauty of an orange shirt to heal, to make a statement and to inspire... all at the same time.  Diamond Tribute Maple Leaf Motif at Stackt, Toronto.

Sept 2021

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A thoughtful community member was inspired to bring toys as a tribute to the memorial.  Thank you!

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Little Norway Park Diamond Tribute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We acknowledge that this Memorial is hosted on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.

2021 UNDEFEATED!!

And Still We Rise!   In our humanity, our weakness, our pain, sorrow, grief and all of those unique qualities that make us who we are,  we must continue to advance towards an active partnership with those things and those people who encourage and help us to remain present and engaged, in spite of the many challenges we all face.  

C is for Commitment, Connectedness, Consistency, Compassionate Care and Contentedness in Creativity and in Community.

As you look ahead to 2022, if and when you choose to be an Ally in pursuit of Truth and Reconciliation in the matter of Residential School Children -  Past but Not Forgotten, seek to be informed, to inform others and to be a source of genuine upliftment and encouragement as your paths cross. 

Don’t be a Barrier or a Blockage.  Know and understand that Justice, Equity and Fairness are neither overnight sensations nor a part of everyone else’s pursuit.   Even when you find yourself standing alone, Perseverance is Key to finding your rightful place.

Stand Firm,  Stand Strong!  But above all else, STAND! 

Diamond Tributes 2021  Thanks You All!!

The Love of A Father For Children...

A Granddaughter's Inspired and Spontaneous Creativity in Nature - A True Gem!

A Message On The Fence:  You are remembered and live on in our hearts!

A Generation with Heart Felt Commitment Showing Honor To Life

Tributes Left With Love, Care, Compassion, Thought and Reflection...This is Us!

Committed and Creative Community Expression... Showing up and Sharing

An Artistic Impression about what truly matters ...  Love Unites!

Role Models For Committed Inspiration...Paying It Forward

True inspiration brought these students back with bags of tributes.

The simple reason  ... Our Creative Catalyst ...  Every Child Matters! 

Youth Reflections written and performed at the Memorial Site on September 30, 2020 by students from The Waterfront School, Toronto:  

“Today, the students and staff at The Waterfront School are joining together to continue to listen, to learn  and to reflect on the injustices in Canada’s history to Indigenous People.  We are taking actions to learn about the past and that the voices of all students are listened to and that their culture and experiences are heard and that they matter.  From the Waterfront School”

“To me, Orange Shirt day means to remember the indigenous kids whose culture and language were taken away as well as many other things dear to them.”

“ Orange Shirt day is about recognizing what has happened in the past and creating a more equal and respectful society for children and indigenous people.  We also honour those that have survived the residential school and remember those that didn’t make it”

“ in my Canada: 

everyone has access to water

everybody’s Heritage matters

we all embrace the future together “

We can and must continue to be the voice of the voiceless. 

And Still We Rise!  This is your call to Soar!   Bring your voice to the Diamond Tribute.

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Visual and Tactile Sharing of Empathy For All Ages!   Teach Them Well!

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And So It Starts!  Thank You For Your  Contribution to this Memorial!             Let’s Fill the Fence!!!

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September 30th  is the National Day For Truth And Reconciliation

Meet us at Little Norway Park (Bathurst And Queen’s Quay)  in Toronto from 9 am - 9 pm on September 30th 2021. Bring your tributes of used children’s shoes and backpacks but mostly footwear.  Let us pay a tribute to the lives of children whose awesome potential as citizens of this country was unrealized and to their families whose sorrow we share. 

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            ACTIONS DO SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!

 In 2021, a baseball diamond memorial tribute was created at Little Norway Park in downtown Toronto to honor First Nations children who attended residential schools in Canada and suffered abuse.   The memorial is an acknowledgement and tribute to Indigenous families who continue to grieve the loss of their beloved but have joined the pursuit of healing.

The Diamond Tribute is equally an expression of creative and collaborative empathy from those outside the First Nations communities. It acknowledges that indeed, the life of Every Child Matters and that sorrow and loss have also been felt by the non indigenous.  This creative art installation symbolizes our shared humanity and is a call to action for healing and wellness to prevail.

Since 2021, students from neighbourhood TDSB schools have visited the memorial in June and September on commemorative dates to honor the residential school children and survivors by bringing their written, spoken and performance expressions of empathy, compassion, sorrow and hope  to the diamond.  University of Toronto students have also visited the site to learn how creativity can be used to express communal activism.  

Families have brought their children to the memorial with used and worn shoes as well as children’s toys to be placed on the fence to show their willingness to stand in solidarity with Indigenous people. Every tribute in the form of worn or well used footwear is a pledge to remain vigilant and ensure that the lives lost, were not lost in vain.

                            JOIN US!  LET’S #FillTheFence

                                TAKE THE 215+PLEDGE!

By doing a Google Search for 215+, readers are invited to take their own action to commit to calling for change that will build bridges to foster Truth, Reconciliation and Healing where it is needed most. 

  LOCATION:

TORONTO - Little Norway Park (Bathurst St. and Queen’s Quay)

CONTACT:    diamondtributes@gmail.com for more information..

NOTE: PLACE SHOES ABOVE THE MAPLE LEAF!

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IN MEMORY OF INDIGENOUS  RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL CHILDREN                                   LET THEIR SILENCE SPEAK!

Join us in a symbolic sharing of grief, sorrow and empathy for the loss of innocent indigenous children whose remains were uncovered in graves at residential schools in Western Canada. The orange maple leaf with the embedded heart symbolizes the affinity Canadians possess for their love of humanity and more importantly for the Love that surrounded these innocent children in their short lives among us.  The angel wings symbolize the compassion, care and protection that should be given to the hearts, minds and spirits of all children present or absent.

In 2021, we are being called to make sure that this never happens again on our watch.  It is time to take a stand against  the misguided work of child welfare agencies and other organizations and individuals who  historically denied and continue to deny children their birthright to be with loved ones, speak their native tongue and participate in cultural traditions that encourage wellness of mind, body and spirit. 

This is an opportunity to demonstrate that we care and have concern for the families and friends who grieve.  Show them that we are standing with them, shoulder to shoulder, by creating a Diamond Tribute on your community park baseball diamond.  Instructions can be found in this blog.

Invite friends, neighbors and family to honor these innocent Canadians and the love of their families and friends who waited for them to return from school. Bring your tributes of used children’s footwear and used backpacks to fill the fence above the motif. Plastic zip ties are recommended for securing the items.

                           THESE CHILDREN DID NOT DIE IN VAIN.

Let us join hearts, hands and voices to ensure that injustice towards  children, especially indigenous children, in institutions and foster homes and children in any other setting who have been withheld from any side of their family, must not happen on our watch. Speak and Act in Truth and in the Light!  Let your own words and actions promote Healing and Reconciliation!

                                        Lest We Forget