TIMMINS - To honour the survivors of residential schools and those who never made it home, events are being held across the region.
Along with being Orange Shirt Day, Sept. 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Orange Shirt Day was inspired by residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad, who had her new orange shirt taken on her first day at residential school. Many Canadians wear orange shirts to honour the children who survived and to remember those who did not.
In 2021, Sept. 30 was declared a federal statutory holiday, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The day aims to foster deeper reflection, education and public dialogue about the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Because it's a federal holiday, many government offices are closed.
The City of Timmins offices are also closed today, including Service Timmins and provincial offences, Timmins Economic Development Corporation, the Timmins Public Library branches and the Timmins Museum: NEC.
There is no waste collection today, people who normally receive that service on Monday will have their waste and recycling picked up on Oct. 1.
Timmins Transit is running an extended Sunday schedule, with service running until 10:30 p.m.
If you're looking to commemorate the day, here's what's happening around the region:
Timmins
On Sept. 30, the Timmins Native Friendship Centre is hosting its Orange Shirt Day event.
It starts at the centre located at 179 Kirby Ave. at 10:30 a.m. with an opening prayer and drumming ceremony. There is a community walk at 11 a.m., followed by a lunch and speeches at noon,
From 1:30 to 3 p.m., residential school survivors will share their stories.
The day wraps up with a closing prayer and drumming ceremony at 4:30 p.m.
Cochrane
The Ininew Friendship Centre’s community walk starts at 11 a.m., departing from the centre located at 190 Third Ave. Participants will walk to the town pavilion, where there is a storytelling session near the town fountain. Elders and community members will share personal stories and experiences related to residential schools, offering firsthand accounts and insights into the enduring impact on their lives and families.
The event ends with a community lunch at 12:30 p.m. at the friendship centre.
Kapuskasing
Kapuskasing is holding events on Sept. 30 at the Riverside Park Bay Area.
The schedule is:
- 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Activity booths
- 11 a.m. - noon, and 1-2 p.m. - Vanessa Brousseau Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls presentation with the red dress art installation in the big tent
- Noon - 1 p.m. - Community lunch
- 1-4 p.m. - Eagle Soaring drum group and traditional dancers
- 5-6 p.m. - Traditional feast.
There are also workshops on both days. Details are available here.
A 24-hour national residential school crisis line to support former students and their families is available at 1-866-925-4419.
