The Municipality of Kincardine is preparing to observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, an annual event dedicated to recognizing the systemic inequities endured by Indigenous communities throughout Canada and acknowledging the long-term historical effects of residential schools.
Created following years of sustained community advocacy and official calls for justice, the day marks a crucial step in the ongoing national reconciliation process. The observance is simultaneously recognized as Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led effort intended to honour children who survived the residential school system while memorializing those who did not make it home.
Local commemorations will begin on Friday, September 25, when the Survivors’ Flag is raised across three community flagpoles. A public ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. outside the Kincardine Branch of the Bruce County Library to mark the occasion. The flag will remain on display through October 2 at the Kincardine Library, Tiverton’s Station 11 Fire Hall, and the Davidson Centre. Developed by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, the flag serves as an emblem of remembrance, paying tribute to survivors, their families, and their broader communities while remembering the missing children.
Throughout the same period, September 25 to October 2, members of the public can visit informational and resource displays located at the Davidson Centre, the Municipal Administration Centre, and the local Welcome Centre.
Residents across the municipality are invited to wear orange shirts on September 30 as a visible gesture of remembrance and solidarity. Additional local opportunities have been organized to help community members learn, reflect, and engage directly in reconciliation efforts.
On Saturday, September 26, the Bruce County Library's Kincardine Branch will host an 11 a.m. screening of The Secret Path. The film chronicles the life of Chanie Wenjack, whose death while fleeing a residential school brought widespread public attention to the reality and ongoing trauma of the residential school system.
On Sunday, September 27, municipal officials and Bruce County will co-host the Walk for Wenjack at Station Beach from 1 to 3 p.m. Community members are invited to participate in the event to honour Wenjack’s memory and symbolically recreate his journey home, with registration open to anyone wishing to participate as part of their personal commitment to reconciliation.
To explore further educational materials and take meaningful action beyond wearing orange, community members can access the municipality’s Journey to Reconciliation webpage, which features additional resources, updates on local initiatives, and registration details for the Walk for Wenjack.
