National Day for Truth & Reconciliation – September 30

| Announcements, Community, Diversity

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is Friday, September 30. Previously observed as Orange Shirt Day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities that continue to be impacted by the ongoing legacy of residential schools.

We will be closed on Friday attending Indigenous-led events in our local area and reflecting on this painful legacy of colonialism. We encourage all our members and allies to do the same. If accessing these events is not possible, this is a day for personal learning about Indigenous peoples’ experiences and identifying actionable steps to promote healing and reconciliation.

Wear Orange

Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30.

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”.  The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

On September 30, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.

A list of Orange Shirt Day events can be found here