National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
67 days until National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
About National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, observed every year on September 30, honours the Indigenous children who never returned home, as well as the Survivors of residential schools, their families, and their communities. While it is a federal statutory holiday for federally regulated workers across Canada, it is designated as a provincial or territorial public holiday specifically in British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.
History
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was formally established by the Parliament of Canada in June 2021. Its creation directly fulfilled Call to Action number 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which requested a national day of commemoration to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and to ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital part of the reconciliation process.
The date of September 30 was chosen to build upon Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots Indigenous-led observance established in 2013 by Northern Secwepemc author Phyllis Webstad. As a six-year-old child attending St. Joseph Mission Residential School near Williams Lake, British Columbia, Webstad was stripped of her brand-new orange shirt on her first day. That shirt became a enduring emblem of the systemic cultural loss, forced assimilation, and emotional harm inflicted on generations of Indigenous children.
Traditions & Celebrations
On September 30, individuals across the country wear orange clothing to convey solidarity with Survivors and affirm that every child matters. Indigenous leaders, community groups, and local municipalities host commemorative ceremonies, quiet reflection walks, drumming circles, and educational forums. Many Canadians observe the day by reading the 94 Calls to Action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, supporting Indigenous-owned businesses, or listening directly to testimonies recorded by residential school Survivors.
Did you know?
- Between the 1830s and 1996, the Canadian government operated more than 150 residential schools that forcibly removed an estimated 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children from their families.
- The Truth and Reconciliation Commission spent six years traveling across Canada and documented testimonies from more than 6,500 witnesses before publishing its final report in 2015.
- September 30 was selected as the annual date because late September was historically the time of year when Indigenous children were gathered and taken away from their home communities to residential schools.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation dates by year
Frequently Asked Questions
Is September 30 a paid statutory holiday for all workers in Canada?
No. It is a statutory holiday for federally regulated employees across Canada, but among provinces and territories, it is a broad public holiday only in British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.
What is the origin of Orange Shirt Day?
Orange Shirt Day was created in 2013 by residential school Survivor Phyllis Webstad to share her story of having her personal orange shirt taken from her on her first day at residential school, symbolizing the loss of identity forced upon Indigenous students.
What services are affected by the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?
Federal government offices, banks regulated by federal law, and Canada Post retail counters close nationwide on September 30. Public schools, provincial courts, and provincial offices also close in British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.