National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Vancouver Events 2024
bySeptember 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
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.
- (Sept 13-15) 3rd Annual Stalew Pow Wow in Langley
- (Sept 14) Come Toward the Fire Free Indigenous Festival
- (Sept 19) Indigenous Film Festival at Gordon Neighbourhood House
- (Sept 20) Truth and Reconciliation – Healing with Art
- (Sept 21) Beaded Orange Shirt Pin Workshop with Wagella Hunt
- (Sept 23) Capilano University Truth and Reconciliation Keynote: Chelsea Vowel
- (Sept 25) Kairos Blanket Exercise: Indigenous Teaching and Sharing Circle
- (Sept 25) Rhythms of Resilience Stories of Hope and Healing
- (Sept 26) Qwalena: The Wild Woman Who Steals Children
- (Sept 26) Fostering Economic Empowerment through Reconciliation
- (Sept 26) Capilano University Truth and Reconciliation Keynote: Angela Sterritt
- (Sept 26) Dogwood Pavilion – Truth and Reconciliation: Tea and Bannock
- (Sept 27) Journée de la vérité et de la réconciliation
- (Sept 27) Towards Truth and Reconciliation: Comic Workshop Jordanna George
- (Sept 27) NCTR Lunch & Learn Webinar
- (Sept 27) BC Lions Orange Shirt Day Game in Honour of Truth And Reconciliation
- (Sept 27) Introducing Indigenous Inclusion by Nahanee Creative (Webinar)
- (Sept 27) Skookum Surrey Orange Shirt Day
- (Sept 27) Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society Orange Shirt Day Luncheon
- (Sept 28) Cedar Friendship Bracelet Workshop with Todd Giihlgiigaa Devries
- (Sept 28) National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Fort Langley
- (Sept 29) National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Maple Ridge
- (Sept 29) Culture Club at MOA – Cedar Hearts for Reconciliation
- (Sept 29) Chilliwack Market Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- (Sept 29) National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Film Series at Polygon Gallery
- September 30, 2024:
- Place des Arts: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Truth and Reconciliation Day: NFB Film Screenings
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Vancouver Aquarium
- Create and Connect: Truth and Reconciliation Day at MONOVA
- Community Gathering at Trout Lake – Nisga’a Ts’amiks Vancouver Society
- Noons Creek Hatchery Reconciliation Event in Port Moody
- Intergenerational March to commemorate Orange Shirt Day (UBC)
- Free Admission at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
- National Day for Truth & Reconciliation at the SLCC
- Walk for Truth and Reconciliation (Tsawwassen)
- Honouring Residential School Thrivers and Survivors – Stó:lō Nation
- Learning Opportunity: Downstream Where the Waters Mix Exhibition
- National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Teaching Pow Wow Queen’s Park
More events will be added throughout the month as they are announced. There are also online events and resources for schools during Truth and Reconciliation Week.
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.
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, only 13 have been completed so far (note: this has not changed since last year)
- This is a kid-friendly version of the TRC calls to action
- Contact your MPs and local officials
- 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.”
Read also: 2023 Reconciliation Award Recipients