Canadians will pause today to reflect and remember the more than 150,000 Indigenous children who were forcibly removed from their families and placed in the country's residential school system.
This is the sixth year Canada has marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Coinciding with Orange Shirt Day, the federal statutory holiday was declared in 2021 to recognize the children who never made it home from residential schools, survivors, and their families.
Across midwestern Ontario, numerous events have been planned to help residents observe the day.
A community ceremony is being held in the Gichi-Name Wiikwedong Reconciliation Garden at the south end of Kelso Beach at Nawash Park starting at 10 a.m. It will include a ceremonial fire.
Saugeen Shores will hold a ceremony at the Zgaa-biig-ni-gan Bridge on Highway 21 on the north side of Southampton at 11 a.m.
The Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation is hosting a gathering and reconciliation walk at Cape Croker Park in Neyaashiinigmiing from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will include cultural sharing, storytelling, sweetgrass friendship braiding, traditional arts and crafts, and activities for children and families.
The Huron County Library and Huron County Museum are hosting community programming and events. In the lead up to the day, the library held Indigenous beading workshops at various branches. On Thursday afternoon, there will be an Honouring National Day of Truth and Reconciliation event with Author Kristi White and First Nations Dancer at Wingham Town Hall.
The Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre is offering all-day free admission on Wednesday. Those attending can check out the Witness Blanket, a powerful art installation created by Master Carver Carey Newman to recognize the atrocities of the residential school era, honour the children and symbolize ongoing reconciliation. The interactive Biinaagami Water Map will also be available for viewing.
The Bruce County Public Library will have Indigenous programs, book displays, educational opportunities, and resources from now through October.
A Walk for Wenjack will take place at Riverbend Park in Walkerton at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Other walks in support of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund will be held at Fairy Lake Pavilion in Southampton on October 19 and at Saugeen First Nation Amphitheatre on October 21.
Many municipal buildings have raised the Every Child Matters Flag in Recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation or lowered flags to half-staff.
Radio stations across the country, including those owned by Blackburn Media, will turn the airwaves over to Indigenous voices from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday by airing "A Day to Listen 2026". The theme of this year's program is "Honouring Truth with Action." It will be hosted by William Prince and feature Indigenous leaders, Knowledge Keepers, educators, artists, and changemakers exploring how acknowledging and understanding the truth can inspire meaningful action toward reconciliation.
As the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a federal holiday, federal government office including passport offices, Canada Post, and Service Canada, will be closed for the day.
Schools and most privately owned businesses such as grocery stores and retail outlets will remain open as the Ontario government has not declared the day a statutory holiday.
