BC Place Light the Path Orange Shirt Illumination
byIn late July, BC Place’s Northern Lights Display will be inspired by the “Light the Path” Orange Shirt, designed by xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) artist Debra Sparrow along with her grandsons Isaiah and Cyler for Hope and Health, an organization that maximizes the power of sport to engage, educate, and empower Indigenous youth to improve long-term health and life outcomes.
BC Place Light the Path Orange Shirt Illumination
Similar to the “Light the Path” Orange Shirt, the illumination will feature 215 stars against an orange background. The nighttime display around the stadium’s exterior will run on July 24 and July 25, 2022.
“Finding the 215 children buried at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School touched everyone so deeply. Speaking with my two grandchildren, it seemed to have sparked something deep within us,” said Sparrow, whose artwork was also previously featured on the Northern Lights Display last February. “It’s as if the children shone a light, the earth opened up, and instead of darkness, the light came through. The stars that each of them have become are shining on us, and they are going to light the path for us.”
The stadium light show coincides with the Hope and Health Community Camp at BC Place on July 25, which is now open for registration. Featuring enhanced cultural teachings as well as training sessions with coaches, mentors, and traditional knowledge carriers, the Hope and Health Community Camp is the latest addition to the stadium’s community-building programming for 2022.
Next month’s illumination schedule also includes a Maple Leaf show for Canada Day weekend, a rainbow illumination for the Vancouver Pride Festival, and a Summer show featuring the province’s vibrant colours of the season from July 10 to 14, 2022.
About Hope and Health
The Hope and Health movement utilizes the beautiful game of soccer and mentorship to inspire hope, as well as improve the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and life conditions for Indigenous children and youth. The team is committed to come together as one heart, one mind to maximize sport as a tool for reconciliACTION in relation to the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls To Action, specific to Sports and Reconciliation (87-91). Their vision is for Indigenous children and youth to carry themselves with pride and confidence, achieve their highest potential and dream big.
Order your own Light the Path Orange Shirt online here. All net proceeds will go towards Hope and Health sport for development community based programming, including a Musqueam based H3 program start up + many others around the province in 2022.
