A scene from The Secret Path, an animated film adaptation of Gord Downie's album and Jeff Lemire's graphic novel by the same name.

Hub Staff

In honour of Secret Path Week, October 17 to October 22, Bruce County and community partners are hosting two Walk for Wenjack events. On Friday, October 18 at 1pm, the first event will be held at Bluewater Park in Wiarton and on Monday, October 18 at 1pm, a second event is set to take place at Fairy Lake Southampton.

"Everybody has their own reason to 'Walk for Wenjack' during Secret Path Week," read a recent media release from Bruce County. "For some, it may be a moment to honour Chanie Wenjack and the many others like him. For others, it may be an opportunity to raise awareness of the true history of residential schools."

Since 2016, the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund has been challenging Canadians to 'do something' meaningful and the two events in Bruce County aim to provide an opportunity for people to come together as a community "in spirit of reconiliACTION" to walk, learn, and reflect on the more than 600 kilometre journey Chanie Wenjack embarked upon before succumbing to the cold near Kenora, Ontario.

Screenings of The Secret Path, an animated film adaptation of Tragically Hip frontman, the late Gord Downie's album by the same name and Jeff Lemire's graphic novel in honour of Wenjack, will be held on Monday, October 21 at 10:30am and 6pm.

Admission is free and refreshments will be provided. Donations to the Nawash Food Bank will be accepted and the first 20 donations at each event will receive a prize from the Downie Wenjack Foundation.

In 1966, Chanie Wenjack ran away from Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School in Kenora, Ontario. He walked for 36 hours along the train tracks before dying of exposure on October 22. He was just 12 years old. His death sparked the first inquest into the treatment of Indigenous children in the residential school system. Chanie’s story, tragically, is like so many stories of Indigenous children in this country.

Walk for Wenjack events in Bruce County are hosted in partnership with Cape Croker Park, Kitaamgwedaagwad Gindasswin Adult Learning Centre, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Chief & Council, Bruce County, Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, Nuclear Waste Management Organization, and Bruce Power.