On September 30, 2021, we mark Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This new federal statutory holiday has been established as a day to reflect upon the legacy and impact of residential schools in Canada.
For many decades, Indigenous children were taken from their families and sent to residential schools, where many of them endured harsh treatment and many died from illness and abuse.
Since 2013, September 30 has also been known as “Orange Shirt Day”, a day on which people are asked to wear an orange shirt to honour the survivors of residential schools and the children who died.
However, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada recommended a more formal and national recognition of the impact of residential schools, calling upon the Government of Canada to collaborate with Aboriginal peoples to:
“Establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
On September 30th, the offices of the Heritage London Foundation will be closed. The Elsie Perrin Estate and Grosvenor Lodge historic sites will also be closed to the public.
For more information, please see the following resources: