CIVIC FACILITIES CLOSED
All Statutory Holidays
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
STATUTORY HOLIDAY | SEPTEMBER 30 (every year)
Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established to honour the indigenous children who never returned home from residential schools, as well as the survivors, their families, and their communities. The Province of BC adopted this day as a statutory holiday in 2022. The public commemoration of this tragic and painful history acknowledges the ongoing impacts of residential schools and is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
WEAR ORANGE
Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30.
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. Orange Shirt Day grew out of Phyllis Webstad’s story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day at residential school. She was among the hundreds of thousands of Indigenous children who attended Indian residential schools in Canada between the late 1800s and 1996 and who must now live with the devastating and lasting effects. While wearing orange is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations, it has also become a symbol of hope, ongoing healing and reconciliation and honours the experience of Indigenous People.
On September 30, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.
“We pledge our continued support to our surrounding Indigenous communities, and we will loudly advocate for diversity, inclusiveness, respect, and equality for all.” Mayor Mike Goetz
CLOSED FOR STATUTORY HOLIDAY
As part of this formal recognition, all city facilities (with the exception of scheduled events at the Merritt Civic Centre and Nicola Valley Memorial Arena) will be closed September 30. Offices are closed in honour of the statutory holiday on Monday, October 2, 2023.
HONOURING THE DAY
The City of Merritt regards that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process. We encourage all area residents to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, whether through personal reflection, education, awareness activities, or by participating in events within our community.
EXPLORE LOCAL EVENTS
AT NVIT | LOCAL BANDS | LOCAL SCHOOLS
WAYS TO HONOUR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
- Attend a local event
- Wear Orange on September 30 for Orange Shirt Day
- Watch the events on Parliament Hill at 4PM PST
- Plan for a moment of silence and reflection on September 30. The time of 2:15pm on Saturday September 30, 2023, reflects the discovery of the remains of 215 children in a mass graveyard on a former residential school site in Kamloops, BC, in May 2021.
- Learn about First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada.
- Take a course: Reconciliation Education
LEARNING RESOURCES
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission
- 94 Calls to Action, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
- Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People: Government of BC
- UNDRIP Implementation plan in BC
- First Nation’s Leadership Council
Other Resources
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- Resources for Participation
- How Canadians can Work Towards Reconciliation | Sen. Murray Sinclair, Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner
- The Truth is Hard. Reconciliation is Harder. | Sen. Murray Sinclair, Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner
- How to Mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Global News
- CBC Radio programming for September 30 | VIEW CBC RADIO 1 PROGRAM GUIDE | SEPTEMBER 30
- Beyond 94, Reconciliation in Canada | CBC
- CUPE Truth and Reconciliation Resources | CUPE
- Health Quality BC information, webinars, and resources
CANADA’S TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
There were 140 federally run residential schools in Canada that operated between 1867 and 1996. Survivors advocated for recognition and reparations and demanded accountability for the intergenerational impacts of harm caused. Their efforts culminated in:
- the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement
- apologies by the government
- the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
- the creation of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission ran from 2008 to 2015 and provided those directly or indirectly affected by the legacy of the residential schools policy with an opportunity to share their stories and experiences. The Commission released its final report detailing 94 calls to action. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a direct response to Call to Action 80, which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has become the permanent archive for the statements, documents and other materials the Commission gathered. Its library and collections, as well as its National Student Memorial Register, are the foundation for ongoing learning and research.
Visit the Government of Canada website to learn more.
MENTAL HEALTH
Former residential school students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada.
Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for counselling and crisis intervention.
Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat (Please use Google Chrome).
The City of Merritt respectfully acknowledges that Merritt is located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Nlaka’pamux and Syilx people. We pledge our continued support to our surrounding Indigenous communities, and we will loudly advocate for diversity, inclusiveness, respect, and equality for all.
