September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Here’s what you need to know about Canada’s newest holiday:

1. It is a federal statutory holiday

   Federal statutory holidays are public holidays recognized by the government or province. Depending on one’s eligibility and employer, workers may be entitled to a day-off with pay. This also means that schools, Crown corporations, and non-essential government agencies will be closed for the day (or the next weekday if September 30th falls on a weekend).

2. What’s it for?

   The objective of the holiday is “to create a chance for Canadians to learn about and reflect on a dark chapter in their country’s history and to commemorate the survivors, their families and their communities, as called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Indigenous leaders” (Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault). It is estimated that 150,000 First Nations, Metis, and Inuit children were forced to attend residential schools between the 1870s and 1997.

   As a newcomer to Canada, it’s a great opportunity to learn about Indigenous history to understand the current plight of Indigenous Peoples of this country. You can start with 16 resources to help settlers understand and advance Indigenous reconciliation by Lindsay Purchase (posted on Charity Village) or Winnipeg Public Library’s reading list (and other resources). Another great resource is Beyond 94 by CBC. It monitors the progress of the journey that governments, communities, and faith groups are taking towards reconciliation.

3. It is part of the 94 Calls to Action

   The 94 Calls to Action is one of the main outcomes of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The TRC documented the experience of survivors and witnesses of residential schools all over Canada. The Calls to Action was made to address the ongoing impact of residential schools on survivors and their families. It also proposes a path for reconciliation for the government and Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in the country.

   National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a fulfillment of Call to Action 80.

4. It is also Orange Shirt Day

   Many were already celebrating September 30th as “Orange Shirt Day” even before Bill C-5 was passed. This date was chosen because September 30th was the day when Indigenous children were taken away to residential school.

   Orange Shirt day is based on Phyllis Webstad’s experience on her first day at residential school. Upon arriving at St. Joseph’s Mission, all her clothes were taken away including a new orange shirt that was given to her by her grandmother (watch Phyllis tell the story in the video below). She was six years old at that time. This heartbreaking story highlights how Indigenous children were stripped away of their culture, rights, and self-esteem. This is why the event promotes the slogan “Every child matters.”

 

Phyllis Webstad Orange Shirt Day Presentation

5. Not all provinces will celebrate it as a statutory holiday

   Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec will recognize it as a day of remembrance, not as a statutory holiday. This means that employers in these provinces are not obligated to provide the day off. However, public service employees in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta will be observing a day of remembrance similar to Remembrance Day and Easter Monday (optional general holiday). BC, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut have declared Sept. 30 a statutory holiday.

   In Manitoba, schools and non-essential government services and offices will be closed. The City of Winnipeg, which has the largest Indigenous population of any major city in Canada, will be funding special programs that educate and raise awareness about the history and impacts of the residential school system.

   How will you celebrate Truth and Reconciliation Day?

 
Article updated September 20, 2023.
 
Sources: Federal Statutory holiday: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Government of Canada; National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Government of Canada; The Story of Orange Shirt Day, Orange Shirt Day.org; Winnipeg EPC votes to recognize National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Sam Thompson, Global News; and National day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada 2021, Office Holidays. Accessed September 23, 2021.