When is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a statutory holiday for employees in the federal government and federally regulated workplaces in Canada on September 30th.
The day is intended to educate and remind Canadians about the history of residential schools, honour the victims and celebrate the survivors.
About the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
In June 2021, a bill creating a statutory holiday to commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada received royal assent after passing unanimously in the Senate.
The bill creates a statutory holiday for employees in the federal government and federally regulated workplaces.
Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault says the objective is to create a chance for Canadians to learn about and reflect on a dark chapter in their country’s history and to commemorate the survivors, their families, and their communities, as called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Indigenous leaders.
Over the course of more than 100 years, some 150,000 Indigenous children were ripped from their families and forced to attend church-run residential schools, where many suffered physical and sexual abuse, malnutrition, and neglect. More than 4,000 are believed to have died.
Alberta
While the government of Alberta “encourages all Albertans to reflect on the legacy of residential schools” on Sept. 30, it’s leaving the implementation of a statutory holiday up to individual employers for provincially-regulated industries.
“For provincially-regulated industries, the question on a work holiday is a decision for individual employers, unless an employee’s employment contract or collective bargaining agreement specifically grants federally-regulated holidays,” explained Adrienne South, press secretary for Alberta’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations.
In March 2023, Edmonton city council designated Sept. 30th a civic holiday.
British Columbia
On March 9th, 2023, British Columbia’s Bill 2, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Act (Bill 2) received Royal Assent. Bill 2 came into force on the date of Royal Assent.
Bill 2 amends British Columbia’s Employment Standards Act (ESA) to provide eligible workers in British Columbia a new statutory holiday, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, to be observed annually on September 30th. As noted by the BC government, this holiday commemorates the history and legacy of Canada’s residential school system.
Manitoba
in November 2023, the Manitoba government introduced Bill 4, the Employment Standards Code Amendment and Interpretation Amendment Act, that would establish Sept. 30 as a provincial statutory holiday in the province, namely National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Premier Wab Kinew and Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino announced today.
“Manitobans from all walks of life are ready to embrace reconciliation—whether it’s participating in school events, wearing a WASAC jersey to a Jets game or talking to their kids about our history and the future we want,” said Kinew. “Legislating Sept. 30 as a general holiday creates space for all Manitobans to come together in observation, reflection and commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools.”
The proposed legislation would establish Sept. 30 as a provincial statutory holiday, which directly responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action No. 80.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick has decided not to make it a provincial holiday. That means employers are not obligated to give the day off. All provincial services, including schools, will be business as usual on Sept. 30, while all private companies will have to decide whether to close and give employees the day off.
In making the announcement Tuesday, Premier Blaine Higgs urged New Brunswickers to take time to reflect.
"Our government encourages everyone to use this day as an opportunity to consider what each of us can do as individuals to advance reconciliation and help to create a better, more inclusive province," he said. "While September 30th will be observed in New Brunswick, it will not be a statutory holiday."
North West Territories
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has amended the Employment Standards Act (Act) to add the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to the list of statutory holidays, to be observed on September 30th annually, beginning in 2022.
This holiday gives all Northwest Territories (NWT) residents an opportunity to acknowledge the territory’s colonial history and the legacy of residential schools
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia says government offices, public schools and regulated child care will be closed on Sept. 30 in recognition of Truth and Reconciliation Day, the newest statutory holiday. Businesses will have the choice, as they do on other occasions, to remain open.
"We encourage all Nova Scotians, whether you are working or in school, to make time on Sept. 30 for important discussions about Canada's history of residential schools," Premier Tim Houston said in a release.
Nunavut
In August 2022 the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation received assent by Eva Aariak, the Commissioner of Nunavut, at the Spring Legislative Assembly.
In accordance with the amendments made to the Labour Standards Act, Legislation Act and Public Service Act, September 30th is now a designated statutory holiday in Nunavut which applies to Nunavut public services employees and employees of territorially regulated businesses.
Ontario
From 2023, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be recognized as a public sector holiday in Ontario, according to a ruling by a labour arbitrator.
“The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a holiday within each of the holiday provisions of the collective agreements,” wrote arbitrator Christopher Albertyn, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. “It ought to have been granted as a paid holiday in 2022.”
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island amended its Employment Standards Act after the holiday’s 2021 observance to add the day to the province’s list of paid holidays.
Saskatchewan
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, will be observed on September 30. This is a new statutory holiday for employees in federally regulated workplaces or those who have a collective bargaining agreement that identifies they will observe federal statutory holidays. The day is not a statutory holiday in Saskatchewan for employees who are not federally regulated.
Yukon
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is on track to become a statutory holiday in the Yukon.
The decision to recognize the day was sparked by a public survey, which showed 66 per cent of those who responded were in favor of the stat.
Orange Shirt Day
The date of September 30th is to mark Orange Shirt Day, an unofficial day that has been observed since 2013 in memory of a piece of clothing then-six-year-old Phyllis Webstad had taken from her on her first day at a residential school in 1973.
