National Day for Truth and Reconciliation commemorations

As the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaches on September 30, various Canadian organizations and communities are organizing commemorations to honor residential school survivors.

The Canadian Football League (CFL) has announced initiatives including game day commemorations, educational events, and the use of orange and white pregame jerseys. The league has also introduced a redesigned logo featuring ‘Turtle Island’ in the Eastern Woodlands Indigenous Art style, created in consultation with National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak.

At the community level, observances include flag ceremonies, book clubs focused on residential school memoirs, and private gatherings such as those planned by the Tsleil-Waututh Nation to uplift survivors. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation also marks the anniversary of the ‘Every Child Matters’ crosswalk in North Vancouver.

Regional activities are expanding across the country. In Brock Township, ceremonies will include a flag presentation at the municipal building, while the Durham Region has held walks for reconciliation. Art exhibitions in Trail, British Columbia, will feature Métis, Anishinaabe, Cree, and Hesquiaht artists. Additionally, special radio programming is being broadcast across Canada in partnership with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. These events aim to address the legacy of colonization and the residential school system, emphasizing the ‘Every Child Matters’ movement.