South Calgary United Churches (SoCal) invite you to join us for
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at McDougall United - Wednesday, September 30, 2026
There is no cost to attend the Noon Luncheon & Program: 12:00 - 3:00 pm
Free lunch of "Bannock Tacos"
Meet "Award-winning Indigenous artist Crystal Lee Clark" who is presenting a new large-scale artwork for display in Calgary churches
Inviting all-ages to join a "meaningful art-making" activity.
Come for lunch and share in a program led by the artist, involving participants in a special art project suitable for all ages.
Invite family & Friends for this special day and join in the Introduction & Dedication of this Mural funded through the National Urban Indigenous Healing Fund.
Schedule of Events
Lunch: Free lunch of "Bannock Tacos" starting at 12 pm
Artist Presentation: Following lunch, Crystal Clark will give an artist talk where they will share the meaning behind their artwork, their personal connection to it, and reflect on the significance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Hands-on Activity: Following the artist share time. Crystal Clark will facilitate a simple, optional hands-on activity connected to the artwork. Participants will be invited to create a small commemorative piece inspired by the artwork and its themes connected to National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. The activity can take as little as five minutes or much longer, depending on each person's level of engagement.
Extra Time: The formal program will be finished around 3 pm. However, there will be some extra time available to stay in the space to work on your piece should you require it.
Artist Bio
Crystal Clark is a Dene, nêhiyaw-iskwêw, and Métis mixed-media artist and Indigenous educator whose work explores themes of relationships, relationality, rematriation, reciprocity, identity, the natural world, and cultural continuity. Through vibrant visual storytelling, her artwork invites viewers to reflect on the interconnectedness of people, place, water, sky, plants, animals, and spirit.
With over two decades of experience in education, Crystal brings together her artistic practice and her work as an educator to create opportunities for celebration, learning, dialogue, and reconciliation. Her public art, paintings, and educational resources have been exhibited and commissioned provincially and nationally. She is passionate about creating spaces where art becomes a catalyst for reflection, healing, and meaningful conversations.
As the daughter of a Residential School Survivor, Crystal's work is informed by both lived experience and the first-generation impacts of intergenerational trauma. As an Indigenous educator, she has witnessed firsthand how visual storytelling creates accessible entry points into learning, helping people connect with culture, history, and one another in meaningful ways.
Her work created for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation first honours the children who never returned home and those who survived, while also recognizing the enduring strength of Survivors, their families, cultures, and communities. Through her art, she encourages collective remembrance, reflection, healing, and hope for present and future generations. You can learn more by visiting her website.
To learn more about the Right Relations Work at McDougall, please visit the webpage.