City To Recognize Truth And Reconciliation Day

Saint John will recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday for municipal employees.

Flags will be lowered to half-staff and most municipal facilities will be closed on Sept. 30, the city announced Wednesday.

Saint John Transit will continue to follow its regular schedules, and so will garbage and compost collection in the city.

The new federal statutory holiday received Royal Assent in early June after it was passed unanimously in the Senate.

But the province announced last week that it will not treat the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday.

While federally regulated workplaces will be closed, all provincial services will remain open and it will be up to individual private businesses and organizations to decide how they will mark the day.

Premier Blaine Higgs said the provincial government is committed to identifying ways to acknowledge Sept. 30 as a day of recognition.

“Our government encourages everyone to use this day as an opportunity to consider what each of us can do as individuals to advance reconciliation and help to create a better, more inclusive province,” Higgs said in a statement.

Quispamsis council voted this week not to make Sept. 30 a statutory holiday for municipal workers, but the town will hold a ceremony at Meenan’s Cove Park at 3 p.m.

Acting CAO Aaron Kennedy told council Tuesday that it will be an opportunity for staff, council, and the community to “pause and reflect as we look at truth and reconciliation in our country.”