Truth and Reconciliation, Introduced for Newcomers
Every September, orange shirts start appearing in schools, workplaces, and community centres across Canada. For newcomers, this can be a puzzling sight without context. The colour marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, a day connected to one of the harder chapters in Canadian history, and one that still shapes the country today.
At CCS, we believe settling into a new country means more than finding a home, a school, or a job. It also means learning the fuller story of the land where you are building a life on, including the parts that are painful, and choosing to walk forward with care and respect. Reconciliation belongs to all of us, newcomers included, in whatever way feels genuine to you: reading, listening, asking questions, or simply taking a quiet moment on September 30 to reflect.
You don’t need a deep knowledge of Canadian history to take part. You just need to be willing to start. Here are a few concrete ways to do that.
Ways to Take Part
- Learn the history. A short article, documentary, or Indigenous-led news source is a good place to start. You don’t need to know everything before you begin.
- Wear orange on September 30. Orange Shirt Day began as a way to honour residential school survivors and remember the children who didn’t come home. You’ll see it referred to as “Every Child Matters.”
- Attend a local event. [Space to name CCS’s own event or a local Orange Shirt Day gathering, if there’s one to point to.]
- Support Indigenous-owned businesses and organizations. It’s a small, concrete way to put reflection into action.
- Take a quiet moment on September 30. Even a few minutes of reflection counts.
- Keep asking questions. Talk to coworkers, neighbours, or friends. Reconciliation isn’t a one-day topic.
Reconciliation is not something to complete and move past. It is something to keep learning, one conversation and one small action at a time. Wherever you are starting from, that is enough of a place to start.
If you would like to learn more or connect with Indigenous-led resources in the community, we are happy to point you in the right direction.
