Municipal Hall will be closed in observance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Monday, September 30. This day recognizes and honours the victims and survivors of residential schools and their families and communities. The flag at Municipal Hall will be at half-mast on September 30 to commemorate the day.
“It is a day for us all to pause and confront the painful history of the residential school system in Canada, as well as the ongoing injustices faced by Indigenous communities,” says Mayor Ireland. “It is a time to honour the resilience of the survivors and remember those who never made it back home.”
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”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
Residents are encouraged to take time to acknowledge and understand the history and harms created by residential schools in a way that is meaningful to them. “I know myself and Council are committed to continuing our journey toward Truth and Reconciliation by understanding, respecting and working alongside the syilx/Okanagan people,” says Mayor Ireland.
To learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: