OTTAWA — Canadians are marking the fifth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Tuesday, a day meant to reflect on the legacy of residential schools.
The residential school era is the period between 1857 and 1996 when 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend church-run, government-funded schools.
They were barred from speaking their languages in institutions often rife with abuse and located far away from their families and communities.
An estimated 6,000 children died while attending the schools, although experts say the actual number could be much higher.
Sept. 30, known as Orange Shirt Day or the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, is meant to honour survivors and those who never came home.
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to speak at the Remembering the Children gathering on Parliament Hill, which is being hosted by APTN, CBC and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
In a statement, the prime minister said reconciliation is “a generational task, lived and practised every day.”
“Canada’s new government will be a steadfast partner by respecting self-determination, by prioritizing Indigenous equity and co-ownership as vital principles of building, and by recognizing that true partnership first requires shared understanding and that building Canada requires Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices to lead in the shared stewardship of this land,” Carney wrote.
In a statement released by Rideau Hall, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon offered her personal reflections on the day.
Simon, who made history in 2021 when she became the first Indigenous person to be appointed Governor General, said she has seen meaningful progress on the path to reconciliation throughout her career.
“This year marks an important turning point in our history, as it is the 10th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Final Report. The stark truth about the residential school system and the stories bravely shared by survivors in the report’s six volumes sparked a national awakening,” Simon wrote.
She said that while schools are embracing an inclusive history, denialism and discrimination persist.
“Let’s keep building a country where all peoples — Indigenous and non-Indigenous — can truly thrive and face the challenges ahead,” Simon wrote.
Other events are taking place across the country to mark the day, including a legacy gathering in Toronto and a memorial walk in Vancouver.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2025.
Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
