Give It A Try offers opportunity to sample different sports

By Lethbridge Herald on September 27, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Tuesday, The Lethbridge Sport Council invites families and community members to Legacy Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to spend time together outdoors, reflect, learn, play, and discover new ways to connect through sport.

The inaugural Give it a Try on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event is a free, inclusive and family-friendly day of movement, play, and connection made possible through support from Sport Council partners Jumpstart and the City of Lethbridge.

This event caps off Truth and Reconciliation Week by honouring the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation and recognizing the role of sport in bringing people together, fostering understanding, and strengthening community bonds.

“Orange Shirt Day is a time to honour the children who never made it home and to stand in solidarity with Survivors and their families,” says City of Lethbridge Indigenous relations specialist.Echo Nowak, Ka’katosaakii (Star Woman).

“We encourage everyone to take this day as an opportunity to reflect with your own family, and the gift of being together. This is not just a day of remembrance—it’s a day for healing, learning, and connection. Bring your family, wear orange, and join us in creating a future rooted in truth and respect.”

Participants will have the opportunity to try out a variety of activities guided by local leaders and coaches, including: lacrosse with Coach Chad Chief Moon; roller hockey with Dave and Roller Hockey Lethbridge: fitness with Tyler Swag from Good Movement; skateboarding with Husky; and free play with Shawn from Lethbridge Sport Council.

“Being a son and grandson of Residential School Survivors, to me this day means that we need to build trust and correct behaviors,” says lacrosse coach Chad Chief Moon. “I see this working through ‘Kimmapiiyitsin’. In Blackfoot that means ‘compassion and kindness’. Also one of the reasons the game of Lacrosse is played, for Elders and the Children.”

Lacrosse was created by Indigenous peoples of North America and was officially recognized as Canada’s national summer sport in 1994. The game, known as “The Creator’s Game,” held deep spiritual, social, and political significance for many Indigenous communities for centuries before its transformation into a modern organized sport by European settlers.

Lacrosse was a sacred tradition for many Indigenous nations, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, and was played for centuries before European contact. It was more than just a sport; it was a spiritual expression and a way of life, used to resolve disputes, train warriors, honor the Creator, and strengthen community bonds. 

People are encouraged to pre-register on the Sport Council website, but drop-ins will be welcomed. Families are invited to participate together (children 12 and under require a parent/guardian). A light lunch will be served to attendees.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which occurs annually on Sept. 30, was originally and is still colloquially known as “Orange Shirt Day.” It is a Canadian day of memorial to recognize the atrocities and multi-generational effects of the Canadian Indian residential school system. 

The orange shirt symbolizes the loss of culture, freedom, and self-esteem that many Indigenous children experienced. This day reminds us that “Every Child Matters.”

For more information about Give It a Try on Truth and Reconciliation Day go to the Lethbridge Sport Council’s website: lethbridgesportcouncil.ca/events/.