Surrey participants join Pulling Together Canoe Journey, a week-long event uniting Indigenous Peoples, youth, and police for healing and reconciliation.
Community Unites on Vancouver Island Through Canoe Journey
Surrey residents were among more than 220 participants in this year’s Pulling Together Canoe Journey, held July 6–13 across WSÁNEĆ territory on Vancouver Island. The annual event brought together Indigenous Peoples, youth, law enforcement, and public service members to foster reconciliation and build relationships through shared cultural experiences.
Bridging Cultures Through Shared Experience
Mera Dhillon, a Surrey-born articling student with the Law Society of B.C., participated in the week-long journey as part of the Society’s canoe family. For Dhillon, the event was a transformative introduction to Indigenous culture and traditions.
“Everyone was so welcoming and so patient, and we really worked together as a team,” Dhillon said. “You can feel it—the emotion, the intensity.” Coming from an East Indian background, she found deep cultural resonance in the songs, food, and ceremony that marked the event.
Journey Rooted in Healing and Reconciliation
The 2025 Pulling Together Journey, hosted by the WSÁNEĆ Peoples—Pauquachin, Tsawout, Tseycum, and MÁLEXEŁ Nations—served as a moving symbol of healing and unity. Over the course of the week, 14 canoes traveled from Tsawout First Nation to Cowichan Territory, with each stop providing opportunities for cultural sharing and relationship-building.
The goal, organizers say, is not just to paddle together but to foster genuine dialogue and mutual understanding between Indigenous communities and institutions like the police.
Longstanding Support from Surrey Leaders
Linda Blake, a longtime Surrey resident and president of the Pulling Together Canoe Society, has been involved since the journey’s inception in 2001. A former puller, skipper, and safety lead, Blake said the canoe acts as more than just transportation—it’s a symbol of unity.
“The canoe becomes this vessel that we are able to use to bring people together,” she said, adding that the journey’s structure creates a safe space for honest conversations.
Impact on Youth and Law Enforcement
Darryl Gray, president of the Canoe Society and a past participant as a youth, emphasized the long-term value of the event. “It is a form of reconciliAction. You are taking action to create reconciliation,” he said. “Those relationships that they could build here could really ripple into their adulthood.”
Participants included representatives from the RCMP, Vancouver and Victoria Police Departments, the Royal Canadian Navy, and various provincial agencies. Youth from across B.C. also took part, helping bridge generational and institutional divides.
Looking Ahead to the 25th Anniversary
The 2026 Pulling Together Canoe Journey will mark the event’s 25th anniversary and is set to return to the Vancouver area. Planning is already underway, with organizers aiming to expand its reach and deepen its impact.
“It will be pretty amazing next year,” Gray said during the closing ceremony on July 13 in Duncan.
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