Whitby Honours and Reflects Upon the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation icon

This National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, the Town is taking action to stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, and help drive awareness of the individual, family, and community inter-generational impacts of Residential Schools in our country.

While all Town facilities and services remain open on Thursday, September 30, there will be reflection and learning on the purpose and importance of this day, the impact of our actions and those before us on indigenous communities, on the tragedy that occurred at residential schools, and to honour the lives lost, the survivors and their families.

Here’s how you can get involved and learn more:

On September 30, the Town will both raise a flag to represent #EveryChildMatters and fly all flags at half-mast as we remember and honour the many children lost, the residential school survivors, and their families.
Join The Whitby Public Library and the Durham-York Region Public Libraries for an online event featuring Indigenous children’s authors. To participate, visit the WPL Library YouTube site on September 30 2021 at 9 a.m.
At The Whitby Public Library, Central Library location residents can tie an orange ribbon to remember and honour the children lost to residential schools. Ask for a ribbon at any service desk in the Central Library or place your own.

On September 30, residents are encouraged to join Town staff and wear a #OrangeShirt to remember the thousands of Indigenous children who were sent away to residential schools. If you are purchasing an orange shirt for Orange Shirt Day on September 30, please consider supporting an Indigenous community, or buy a shirt from an organization that supports Indigenous groups.

Aside from wearing orange, one of the best ways to be a better ally is through education. At 11 am on September 30, all Town staff will watch a special message about the importance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and how to be a better ally from Kim Wheatley, Anishinaabe Cultural Consultant from the Turtle Clan from Shawanaga First Nations Reserve, and pause for a moment of silence. Staff have also been provided with numerous Truth and Reconciliation learning resources.

Reflect, learn more about Indigenous Peoples and watch Kim Wheatley’s video below about the importance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and how to be a better ally at whitby.ca/diversity.

About The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The day was created in response to one of the 94 calls to action of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The day is designed "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."

About Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day was formed in 2013 in Williams Lake, British Columbia at the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event at which survivor Phyllis Webstad told the story of her new orange shirt taken away from her on her first day of school at the Mission.
Today the annual event drives awareness of the individual, family, and community inter-generational impacts of Indian Residential Schools. For more information please visit the Orange Shirt Day webpage.

For more information, visit whitby.ca/diversity.