5th annual Every Child Matters Ride from Winnipeg to Brandon

Dozens of motorcycle enthusiasts gathered on Saturday for the fifth annual Every Child Matters Ride, honouring children who died in residential schools.

“Five years ago, we uncovered 215 anomalies at the Kamloops residential school,” said Bava Dhillon. “At that time, I was approached by a few motorcycle enthusiasts — many of Sikh descent — who told me they had never known about the residential school system in Canada.”

Dhillon has been organizing the ride ever since to honour those who never made it home, and to educate and raise awareness — not just about residential school victims, but also those who attended unregistered day schools.

“Those people who attended those schools deserve justice,” said Dhillon. “So when we ride together, with all my brothers and sisters here today — and every year — it’s to get justice for the survivors of unregistered day schools.”

The event brought riders from across the province to south Winnipeg, where they embarked on a three-hour ride to the site of a former residential school in Brandon.

Also in attendance were Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba Leader Obby Khan and Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Bernadette Smith. Both said the importance of the ride goes beyond political affiliation.

“As a Manitoban, as a father, and as a political leader, supporting this cause is far greater than politics,” said Khan. “This transcends party lines. It’s about backing the Every Child Matters organization, sending a strong message, and showing that I’m here to support. Look at all the people out here — it’s great.”

“Education brings us together, and that’s what today is about,” said Smith. “Continuing to raise awareness, making sure nothing like this ever happens again, and showing that every child matters.”

Organizers said they also raised funds for the National Indigenous Residential School Museum in Portage la Prairie.