All Provincial Court locations in British Columbia will be closed on Friday, September 30 in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation arose out of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which operated from 2008 to 2015. The Commission provided those affected by the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools with the opportunity to share their stories and experiences, which are now archived at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in Winnipeg.
The Government of Canada National Day for Truth and Reconciliation website indicates that there were 140 federally run residential schools that operated in Canada between 1831 and 1998, and the Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada notes that the last seven residences in southern Canada closed between 1995 and 1998.
The Commission released its Final Report in 2015 with 94 calls to action, one of which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration. Starting in 2021 the federal government recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour “the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.”
The government website explains why the day has been made a federal statutory holiday by saying, “Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day also take place on September 30th. Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led day that honours the Indigenous children who survived residential schools and reflects on the loss of all the children who lost their lives as a result of residential schools.
Making the day count
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation website lists events happening across Canada on September 30th. There are also reports and resources on the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website.
Image: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html