The Parksville Civic and Technology Centre will be lit in orange and the survivors’ flag will be flown from Sept. 23 through Oct. 3 in acknowledgement of the important contribution Indigenous people and communities provide and in the spirit of reconciliation, according to a news release by the City of Parksville.
In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s findings, Sept. 30 has been designated as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The day honours the Indigenous people impacted by the residential school system in Canada, the children who never returned home, and the survivors of residential schools in Canada, as well as the resiliency of their families and communities.
“National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the resilience, dignity and strength of survivors and inter-generational survivors of Canada’s residential schools," said Mayor Doug O’Brien. "We encourage the community to reflect on the history and legacy of residential schools and how we can show support for survivors, their families, and communities.”
City offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 30 for the statutory holiday. There is a growing awareness of the importance of this day and the conversation about what reconciliation truly means.
Sept. 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, intended to raise awareness of the inter-generational impacts of residential schools and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters.”
"The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations," the release said. "We encourage all to wear orange to honour the thousands of survivors of residential schools."
The City of Parksville recognizes with gratitude, the people of the Coast Salish Nations and the traditional territory of the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation and the Qualicum First Nation.
To learn more, visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website and the information about residential school history.
The commemorative flag was created by survivors to share their expression of remembrance with the broader public and to honour residential school survivors, families, and communities impacted by the residential school system in Canada.
