National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is observed in Canada each year on September 30; in 2026, it falls on Wednesday, September 30. Established as a federal statutory holiday in 2021 through Bill C-5, the day responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 80, which called for a statutory holiday to honour residential school Survivors, their families, and communities, and to ensure that the history and legacy of residential schools remain part of the national consciousness. The holiday is observed across Canada, although its employment and school-holiday status can vary by province and territory.

The day grew from the former Orange Shirt Day, which began in 2013 through the work of residential school Survivor Phyllis Webstad and the Orange Shirt Society. Webstad has shared how an orange shirt given to her for her first day at the St. Joseph Mission Residential School in British Columbia was taken away, symbolizing the stripping of identity, dignity, and belonging experienced by Indigenous children. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation therefore combines remembrance with education and action: it acknowledges the harms of the residential school system, honours Survivors and those who did not return home, and encourages Canadians to support reconciliation, Indigenous rights, and the Calls to Action.

The most widely recognized custom is wearing an orange shirt, often bearing the message “Every Child Matters.” Communities commonly hold commemorative walks, candlelight vigils, pipe or smudging ceremonies where appropriate, flag-lowering observances, public statements, and gatherings led by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis organizations. Schools, libraries, museums, and workplaces may host talks by Survivors and Elders, film screenings, exhibitions, readings, and educational programs about residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, colonial policies, and contemporary Indigenous experiences. Participation should be guided by Indigenous communities, with respect for cultural protocols and without treating the day as a festival or costume occasion.

Many people spend September 30 listening to Survivor testimonies, learning the names and histories of residential schools, visiting memorials, supporting Indigenous artists and organizations, and considering concrete reconciliation efforts. Food traditions are not uniform nationwide, but community gatherings may include locally meaningful Indigenous foods such as bannock, wild rice, berries, game, fish, or other regional dishes when offered by hosts. Appropriate words include “Every Child Matters,” “We remember,” and “I am committed to learning and supporting reconciliation.” A respectful greeting is less important than sincere listening, acknowledgment of the day’s solemn purpose, and continued action beyond September 30.