2025 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On this day, we honour the children who never returned home, Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Taking time to remember is an important part of moving towards reconciliation.

Alberta's healthcare agencies will commemorate the day with reflective sessions on Wednesday, September 24.

Session 1: A Future of Hope: Reconciliation Through Intergenerational Healing
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Honouring Life Communities
Virtual Session
Click here to register and join
Join us for a virtual panel of youth presenters from Honouring Life Communities as they share their stories and reflections on Truth & Reconciliation and intergenerational healing.

Session 2: Intergenerational Healing Journey (Keynote Program)
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Virtual and In person Session
Attend virtually: Click here to register and join
Attend In person: RSVP here Foothill Auditorium in the Main Building, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403 29th Street NW, Calgary. (Map)

We gratefully welcome Elder Darryl Brass Jr as our keynote speaker. Elder Darryl Jr will share his personal story of healing from intergenerational trauma and the impacts of residential schools. He is a first-generation survivor whose father, Darryl Sr., attended Residential School. Darryl Jr will share his reflections on intergenerational healing, connection to each other through storytelling and ceremony, and Truth and Reconciliation in present day healthcare. The session closes with a song and drumming with his water drum.

Session 3: Virtual Sharing Circle/Debrief
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Virtual Session
Click here to register and join
We recognize this day may be heavy and we want to be aware of vicarious trauma that may surface with staff and participants who attended the day's sessions. We will be facilitating a sharing circle as an opportunity to provide a venue that is safe for those that wish to attend to assist in seeking emotional/mental support in processing uncomfortable thoughts and emotions that have surfaced. This optional session will not be recorded. We welcome all to attend and know we are here to listen.

We are honoured to welcome Elder Darryl Brass Jr as our keynote speaker session on September 24. (Poster) Participants can join this session online or in person at Foothills Medical Centre. (See the Event Poster, and click here to RSVP)

Elder Darryl Brass, mashkode-bizhiki inini (Buffalo Man), is a Cree, Ojibwe, and Tsuut’ina Elder and Knowledge Keeper who shares traditional knowledge and ceremo­nies to support people and organizations in and around Calgary. With 36 years of experience in ceremonies, he primarily offers guidance through Ojibwe teachings.

A recognized Elder within the Elders Knowledge Circle Society and Braiding The Sweetgrass Elders Groups, Darryl works alongside Treaty 7 organizations to foster meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities. He emphasizes reciprocity, humility, and interconnect­edness, helping others reconnect with cultural identity, responsibilities to Mother Earth, and each other. Always willing to share his knowledge, he remains committed to education and support.

Join us as we receive his teaching on September 24 to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

As we prepare for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we invite you to take the opportunity to learn the history of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the health-related Calls to Action, as presented by Jesse Alook-Lambrecht in 2024. Take a look at all past presentations on our playlist.

The Orange Shirt Day movement started in 2013 after Residential School Survivor, Phyllis Webstad, spoke about having the orange shirt her grandmother bought for her taken away on her first day of school when she was 6 years old.

Watch as Phyllis shares her story here:

130 residential Schools operated in Canada between 1831 and 1996. More than 150,000 children attended, and many of them never returned home. Learn more on the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation's Interactive Map.

Most of the residential schools were in the 4 Western provinces, with 25 schools located in Alberta.

If you need support, a National Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support to former students. This 24-Hour Crisis Line can be accessed at: 1-866-925-4419.

Source: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) provided those directly or indirectly affected by the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools system with an opportunity to share their stories and experiences.

The TRC’s mandate was to inform all Canadians about what happened in residential schools. The TRC documented the truth of Survivors, their families, communities and anyone personally affected by the residential school experience. This included First Nations, Inuit and Métis former residential school students, their families, communities, the churches, former school employees, government officials and other Canadians.

In June 2015, the TRC held its closing event in Ottawa and presented the executive summary of the findings contained in its multi-volume final report, including 94 "calls to action" (or recommendations) to further reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous Peoples.

Learn about the 94 Calls to Action by reading the full report here.