National Day of Truth & Reconciliation
A day to remember the lives lost and to honour the Survivors, their families and communities.
September 30th marks the first ever National Day for Truth & Reconciliation in Canada, also known as Orange Shirt Day. This is a day meant to honour the lost children and Survivors of Residential Schools, their families, and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history as well as the ongoing impacts of Residential Schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
September 30th serves as an opportunity to come together to learn about and acknowledge the impacts of the Residential School system. The National Day for Truth & Reconciliation falls on Orange Shirt Day, a day to wear orange as a symbolic gesture, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families and to commit to the ongoing path of reconciliation.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada issued its final report into the history and legacy of Canada’s residential school system in 2015. The report details account of what happened to Indigenous children who were physically and sexually abused in government boarding schools. The commission published 94 “Calls to Action,” urging all levels of government to work together to change policies and programs to repair the harm caused by the residential schools and move forward with reconciliation.
As a security company operating in Vancouver, we have a responsibility to educate ourselves about this tragic legacy and recognize our role in the journey towards meaningful reconciliation for Indigenous people and communities. We are also proud to have provided complementary security to the Indigenous community at the Vancouver Art Gallery whilst the community mourned the discovery of 215 unmarked graves at a former Residential School located in Kamloops, B.C.
As we continue on the path toward reconciliation, there are a number of ways we can support our Indigenous communities:
Purchase products from Indigenous-owned businesses.
Research the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities in your region and learn the contributions they have made to your community.
Learn the land acknowledgement in your region or develop one of your own in consultation with Indigenous communities.
Attend a live Indigenous-hosted event on September 30. This one has been put together by the Government of Canada, click here to register.