National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Vancouver Events 2026
September 30th marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day), a time to recognize and reflect on the legacy of residential “schools” in Canada. Below you’ll find a list of events around Metro Vancouver as well as additional actions and resources for reflection and learning.
Events | Actions | Resources | Orange Shirt Day History
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Events Around Vancouver
Each organizer has set the tone for their event, whether it be informative or contemplative, or if they have chosen to be more celebratory of culture. If you are looking for a way to commemorate and recognize this day of active listening, and action (on top of wearing an orange shirt, which is a good start!) here are a few events in which you can participate around Metro Vancouver:
- (Ongoing) I Use My Haida Eyes: The History Robes of Jut-ke-Nay–Hazel Wilson
- (Ongoing) Bill Reid Gallery Presents Every River Has a Mouth
- (Ongoing) Cradled Origins at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
- (Sept 4-5) Tatus Festival Celebrates Indigenous Culture at the PNE
- (Sept 5, 12, 26) Every Child Matters Open House (Surrey)
- (Sept 10) Coming Full Circle: History and Impacts of Residential Schools
- (Sept 11-13) Stalew Pow Wow (Langley)
- (Sept 12-19) Squamish Nation Wool Weaving (West Vancouver)
- (Sept 17) Beaded Pin Making (North Vancouver)
- (Sept 19 & 21) Coast Salish Wool Weaving (North Vancouver)
- (Sept 18-20) ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl Come Toward the Fire Festival
- (Sept 19) Coast Salish Plant Walk with Senaqwila Wyss (New Westminster)
- (Sept 20) Raven Transforms: Book Launch with Haida Cultural Celebration
- (Sept 21) 52 Ways to Reconcile with Author David Alexander Robertson
- (Sept 23) A Resting Heart: Documentary Screening and Conversation (Abbotsford)
- (Sept 24) YWCA BC Rhythms of Resilience: Our Children, Our Future
- (Sept 26) Film screening of Laxwesa Wa: Strength of the River (Port Coquitlam)
- (Sept 20) Truth and ReconciliACTION with Kung Jaadee
- (Sept 27) The Legacy of the Salish Woolly Dog Presentation with Senaqwila Wyss
- (Sept 27) The Path Forward – Curated by VSO Indigenous Council
- (Sept 27) National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Maple Ridge
- Sponsored by Miss604
- September 30, 2026 – Orange Shirt Day
- Truth & Reconciliation Day at MONOVA (North Vancouver)
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Place des Arts (Coquitlam)
- Stetís ímexstowx (Walk Beside Us) (Abbotsford)
- Truth and Reconciliation Free Film Screening
- Films For Truth And Reconciliation (North Vancouver)
- Look for more events in the coming weeks from:
More events will be added throughout the month as they are announced.
More Actions
You can donate to causes such as the IRSSS and Indigenous organizations in your community, like UNYA (Urban Native Youth Association), Nations Skate Youth, Justice for Girls. Support Indigenous-led businesses, check out Indigenous artists and exhibitions, visit cultural centres, and continue to honour and observe throughout the year. You can also read a book to honour Residential School survivors, the SFU Library has some selections highlighted.
Learn more about the city around us by downloading the Talaysay App from Talaysay Tours and explore the land through an Indigenous lens.
Additional Resources
- Learn about the impacts of the Indian Residential School system
- Read about how Orange Shirt Day originates from the story of Phyllis Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation
- Read the TRC’s 94 recommendations
- Here’s a progress report on the TRC calls to action, 15 have been completed so far – this number has not changed since last year
- This is a kid-friendly version of the TRC calls to action
- Read the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre’s “Red Women Rising” report
- Find resources for schools
- Contact your MPs and local officials to see how the TRC calls to action are being addressed
- Actively listen to people of First Nations, Inuit and Métis backgrounds
- Stand up to stereotypes, prejudice and systemic racism
- Have conversations with your family and friends (even children)
- Be respectful towards trauma survivors and elders
- Support Indigenous-led community organizations
- Be patient, empathetic and receptive (it’s distressing for everyone)
- Raise awareness in your community and online (wear orange)
- For support:
- IRSSS Toll-Free Line: 1-800-721-0066 (24-Hours)
- National Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
- KUU-US Crisis Line: 1-800-588-8717
- Tsow-Tun-Le Lum: 1-888-403-3123
History of National Truth and Reconciliation Day
September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots campaign founded by Phyllis Webstad. Orange Shirt Day grew out of her own experiences and the experiences of other residential school survivors who attended St. Joseph’s Mission near Williams Lake. It’s a day to honour the healing journeys of residential school survivors and their families and a time to engage in meaningful discussions about the history and legacy of the residential school system.
Orange Shirt Day has become an important opportunity to open up dialogue on anti-racism and anti-bullying. This day is meant to also encourage deeper reflection, learning and public dialogue on the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
In June 2021, the Government of Canada passed Bill C-5 to name September 30 as a federal statutory day. It is observed as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This directly responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #80. Action #80 calls upon the federal government, in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, “to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour survivors, their families and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
Follow Miss604 on:
