Artist and Flourish House resident, Suendrini (Suen) Goonesekera, provided the backdrop for the Sandbanks Music Festival, on September 17, 2022, with her 215 heart Forget Me Project, in commemoration of the 215 unmarked graves of Indigenous children found in Kamloops, B.C., last May.

You can learn more about how the project began here.

This was the scene from the Outlet Beach stage right in the middle of an epic set from Juno-nominated, Toronto alt-rock band, the Born Ruffians.

A number of ESG members participated in the project, including Aidan and the youth group (The GO Project) and residents of Flourish House. This was technically Suen’s eighth year collaborating with the music festival as their long standing and unofficial resident artist.  Flanked by days of misty and rainy weather, Saturday provided warmth and sunshine all day long and the crowd was loving a full day of music, family, and food. In between sets, people were once again able to go for a swim in the lake and enjoy the beach. It was such a beautiful day!

The Forget Me Project was able to happen and the parts made to work so well, as a result of the generous support provided by donations as well as sponsorship from ESG United Church’s Peace with Justice Group, to whom Suen made a presentation on the project back in November 2021.

Suen was able to have a Pin Party two weeks before the festival, which took place in the ESG basement. 

The ESG staff did a great job of  being on hand to provide a bright and clean environment with tables and chairs for the incredible group of 7 to set up. This event and space served to enable the sorting, organizing and pinning of all 215 individual artworks that were created by roughly 150 plus people, which stretched from coast to coast through word of mouth and a few community newsletters. 

Suen sincerely appreciates everyone’s support and generosity of spirit that made the Festival exhibit possible. She looks forward to the next opportunity to show this moving piece at ESG United Church sometime next year and deepen the awareness of this important subject matter. 

Please stay tuned!