Sept. 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada—a recently established national holiday that invites all Canadians to pause, reflect, and acknowledge the painful legacy of the residential school system. The last residential school closed as recently as 1996 in Saskatchewan, and its impacts continue to reverberate through Indigenous communities across Turtle Island.

At the Edmonton Local Immigration Partnership, we recognize our responsibility to honour the truth of this history and actively contribute to reconciliation. We also acknowledge that many newcomer settlers are often unaware of the colonial history of Canada, and we take seriously the responsibility to provide opportunities within the settlement sector for learning about this history. One way we do this is by raising awareness about the significance of September 30 and encouraging meaningful learning and reflection.

To deepen your understanding of residential schools, Truth and Reconciliation, and Orange Shirt Day, we invite you to explore the following resources:

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html