National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Alberta Ecotrust will close on September 30 to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This federal statutory day of commemoration is designated to honour Residential School survivors, their families and communities, and the many thousands of children who were placed in residential schools but never returned home. 

Also referred to as Orange Shirt Day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC’s) Call to Action #80, to “ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.” 

We acknowledge there is a longer history in Canada, extending far beyond the European colonization of these traditional lands, and that colonization and government policies caused significant harm and loss to the Indigenous Peoples who lived here for centuries before us. Many people don’t realize that Alberta had the most Residential Schools out of any province in Canada. 

Our programs extend across Alberta so we call on our stakeholders, colleagues and friends throughout the province to join us in deeply reflecting, remembering and learning about the intergenerational trauma and impacts Residential Schools had on survivors and their communities here and across the country. 

There are many ways to spend our time on this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation; learning in community by taking part in local activities, or taking time personally to learn more and reflect on our shared future together.  

We have put together a list of community-led activities and resources commemorating this important day. 

Residential Schools in Canada: A Timeline