Canada marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Thursday marks Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day honours the Indigenous survivors and children who were taken from their families and forced to live in the residential school system.

The federal statutory holiday was one of the 94 ‘calls to action’ by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The government says public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of reconciliation.

Thursday also marks Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots movement in recognition of residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad. As a six-year-old child, Webstad had her brand new orange shirt taken from her when she arrived at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School in British Columbia.

While many Canadians plan to wear an orange shirt today, there are also a number of local events to attend to learn more about and honour the experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

Events in Hamilton

Orange Shirt Day Commemoration at McMaster University

McMaster University’s Indigenous studies program, Indigenous Research Institute, Indigenous Student Services and Indigenous Health Learning Lodge are hosting an event to commemorate Orange Shirt Day, the children who never made it home and residential school survivors.

The one-hour event starts at 10 a.m. on Thursday. A live stream can be viewed here.

Virtual Workshop: Indigenous Art and Connection to Land

The McMaster Museum of Art and the Student Wellness Centre are holding a one-hour virtual workshop at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. There will be guided looking and reflective exercises and lessons on art, histories and issues related to the land.

Honouring Our Children Heart Garden Event

This free event will feature a heart garden created by Indigenous children to honour residential school survivors, their families and those children who never returned home. It starts at 11 a.m. on Sept. 29 at 785 Britannia Ave.

Events in Niagara Region

City of Niagara Falls Flag Ceremony

The Every Child Matters flag will be raised and then lowered to half-staff on Sept. 30 at 9 a.m. across from City Hall at Rosberg Park. The ceremony will start with a land acknowledgement and will include a moment of silence. The public is invited to attend.

Orange-Illuminated Falls

The Falls will be illuminated in orange starting at 6:30 p.m. and repeat at each half-hour for 15 minutes until 11:30 p.m. to recognize the impacts of the residential school system.

Niagara College: Honouring the Children

A two-hour event will be held in the Indigenous Garden at the Daniel J. Patterson in Niagara-on-the-Lake at 9 a.m. on Thursday. Elder Dave Labbe will light a fire, offer medicines and guide the Niagara College community to reflect on the children who were forced to attend residential schools.

Events in Halton Region

Orange Shirt Day Memorial

From noon until 6 p.m. on Thursday, there will be an Orange Shirt Day event at Spencer Smith Park. It will include a memorial walk from the beach way to the gazebo starting at 3:30 p.m. and a ceremony starting at 4:30 p.m.

Video discussion for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

A video discussion hosted by Downie & Wenjack and President & CEO, Sarah Midanik will be available on The Burlington Performing Arts Centre’s website from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on September 30. Midanik will be joined by notable speakers to discuss the meaning of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and explain how people can respectfully participate.

Events in Brant

Truth Before Reconciliation: A Conversation with Tanya Talaga

There will be a free performance at the Sanderson Centre based on Tanya Talaga’s book Truth Before Reconciliation. As an investigative journalist, Tanya’s book focuses on the lives of Indigenous students over a quarter-century in Thunder Bay, Ont. She discusses the history of the community that has come to represent Canada’s long struggle with human rights violations against Indigenous communities. The performance is at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6.