September 30, 2021 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30th, 2021 will be recognized as a Statutory Holiday this year. Our regular statutory holiday policies will apply.

The BC Government recognizes the importance of honouring a day for Truth and Reconciliation. As such, government has advised all provincial public sector employers that they should recognize September 30th, as a holiday for all employees who are normally entitled to provincial and federal holidays. It should be noted that recognizing September 30th this year is an interim measure while the Province begins to engage with Indigenous partners and the business and labour communities to determine the most appropriate way to commemorate this day going forward.  There are different statutory holidays recognized in Provincial and Federal legislation and only federally legislated industries (Transportation, Communications, Banking) are covered by Canada’s recognition of September 30 as a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Here are some ways that people are recognizing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

1. Read about the history of Indian Residential Schools in Canada:
   1. https://nctr.ca/education/teaching-resources/residential-school-history/ 
2. Sign up for an online course: Indigenous Canada:
   1. https://www.coursera.org/learn/indigenous-canada
   2. Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations. Topics for the 12 lessons include the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art and its expressions.
3. Wear an Orange T-shirt. Here is a link to some orange shirts with designs created by local indigenous artists: https://www.vanmag.com/Where-to-Purchase-Orange-Shirts-for-Canada-Day 

Health Supports for Survivors

Health Support Info:

If you are a Survivor and need emotional support, a national crisis line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

Residential School Survivor Support Line: 1-866-925-4419