Volunteers put up 215 crosses bedecked with children害羞草研究所檚 clothing at the Derek Doubleday Arboretum in Langley on Tuesday morning.

A sign explained the display offers visitors a moment to reflect on the memory of the children found at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

害羞草研究所淪hould you choose, take time to remember, honour and reflect on the tiny souls, their families and the community,害羞草研究所� the sign read.

It was the idea of Cecilia Reekie, a former Langley school trustee and self-described 害羞草研究所渋nter-generational survivor害羞草研究所� who said she was inspired by the sight of crosses with clothing when she visited Kamloops after news of the discovery broke.

害羞草研究所淭hey were somebody害羞草研究所檚 babies,害羞草研究所� she told the Langley Advance Times.

害羞草研究所淎nd sadly, there害羞草研究所檚 going to be more.害羞草研究所�

READ ALSO:

Reekie said she selected clothing that the children wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have worn, because they were in uniform.

One in particular touched her, a tiny white dress with orange trim and a ribbon on the front, which exactly matched the colour seen during the annual Orange Shirt Day held to recognize and raise awareness about the residential school system

Reekie praised the and Township of Langley parks staff for their 害羞草研究所渁mazing害羞草研究所� assistance.

Foundation Executive Director Susan Cairn, who took part in the installation, said the crosses represent 害羞草研究所渢he magnitude of the atrocity.害羞草研究所�

Cairns said the 215 害羞草研究所渘ever had a chance to grow up, to have a 10th birthday, or graduate, or be mothers, fathers [or] grandfathers.

Langley City Coun. Rosemary Wallace, a director with the foundation, joined in the volunteer effort.

害羞草研究所淭his is a very important message,害羞草研究所� Wallace commented.

害羞草研究所淚t gets right in your gut and your heart.害羞草研究所�

Volunteer Una-Ann Moyer, a former aboriginal support worker in the Langley school district, said the crosses make a visual statement that a number does not.

害羞草研究所淭his, to me, is powerful,害羞草研究所� Moyer commented.

READ ALSO:

It was an opinion shared by Langley City resident Judy Goldsmith, a board member on the , who said seeing the crosses filling the green space in the front of the park makes them more than 害羞草研究所渢his number in our head.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭hese kids were somebody害羞草研究所檚 babies, and they can害羞草研究所檛 be forgotten,害羞草研究所� Goldsmith said.

Reekie said she expects the crosses will be up 害羞草研究所渋ndefinitely.害羞草研究所�

In May, the Tk害羞草研究所檈mlups te Secw茅pemc First Nation confirmed the remains of 215 children who were students of the Kamloops Indian Residential School had been found using ground-penetrating radar.