The Road towards Reconciliation: Canadian National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on September 30th

September 30, 2024 will mark the fourth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) in Canada. This federal statutory holiday was enacted to honour the children who never returned home and the Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Also recognized as Orange Shirt Day, the day is 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”.

On this day, Canadians are encouraged to wear orange and to set aside time for learning and reflection, not only on the tragic events of the past but also on ways that we can take action towards reconciliation, every day.