Proclamation made for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Written By Sam Odrowski

Mayor Sandy Brown, on behalf of Council, declared Sept. 30 as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in the Town of Orangeville during last Monday's regular meeting. 

“All of the difficult things that have been learned in the past several months regarding residential schools have been brought home here and we will be paying tribute, and remembering these issues on September 30th, which is not too far down the road,” said Mayor Brown.

In June the federal government passed new legislation marking Sept. 30 as a national statutory holiday for the very first time, commemorating the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada.

The establishment of a national holiday is the 80th call to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report. 

Sept. 30 also coincides with Orange Shirt Day, which was started in 2013 and has become a symbol to honour and commemorate the Indigenous children who were forced to attend residential schools.