Truth and Reconciliation
Each year, September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
All schools are closed on this day.
The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30. The day coincides with Orange Shirt Day, which was first honoured in 2013.
Orange Shirt Day is a commemorative day led by Indigenous communities to raise awareness about the intergenerational impacts of residential schools on children, families, and communities. It honours Indigenous children who were lost in the 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”.
As schools are closed on Sept. 30th, many of our schools will honour the day on Sept. 29th. We encourage all of our school communities to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.
For more information about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
Visual Elements of NDTR Image: The visuals bring together symbols of the 3 Indigenous groups across Canada: the eagle for First Nations, the narwhal for Inuit, and the beaded flower for the Métis. At the centre is a circle which symbolizes unity and the spirit of reconciliation, while the pathway running through it represents the reconciliation journey. The stars symbolize the children who never returned home from residential schools. The orange colour represents truth-telling and healing.
in: Announcements