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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Published September 29, 2021

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established as a statutory holiday in July 2021. The day is also widely known as Orange Shirt Day. People across Canada wear orange to remember the Indigenous children forced to attend residential “schools”.

Why an orange shirt? Its origins are in the story of Phyllis Jack Webstad’s first day at a residential school. You can watch Phyllis tell her story here.

CHF Canada staff are observing this day by wearing orange and reflecting on reconciliation:

As an organization, CHF Canada remains committed to working towards reconciliation, and to supporting our members to do the same.

In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, CHF Canada staff are participating today in diversity training focused on learning and better understanding. CHF Canada is also, together with other co-op housing sector organizations, donating the equivalent of one day’s worth of staff payroll to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

CHF Canada created Building better relationships: A Reconciliation Toolkit to help your co-op get started.  Released in 2020, the Toolkit features printable pages suitable for posting in your co-op, as well as a list of readings, resources and links to promote reconciliation with Indigenous peoples through learning and relationship building.

Co-ops working towards reconciliation

“And a small voice whispers, they found us”: This banner at Corktown Co-op in Hamilton, ON, was made by Cal, a teenage co-op member, in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

If your co-op is observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or working towards reconciliation in other ways, we would love to hear about it. Please let us know at info@chfcanada.coop.


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