Thursday marks the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation across Canada.
The new federal statutory holiday was one of 94 Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
It called for a holiday to “ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
The day coincides with Orange Shirt Day, which was established in 2013 to honour Indigenous children forced to leave their families to attend residential schools.
While the federal statutory holiday received Royal Assent in June, the New Brunswick government decided not to make it a provincial statutory holiday.
Federally regulated workplaces are closed Thursday but all provincial services, including public schools, remain open.
“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,” Premier Blaine Higgs said in a statement on Sept. 1.
While some businesses and municipalities will remain open Thursday, others have decided to close for the day.
Saint John, Grand Bay-Westfield, Sussex, Hampton, St. George, Saint Andrews, and St. Stephen are among the communities recognizing Sept. 30 as a statutory holiday for municipal employees.
In Saint John, most non-essential services will be closed, but transit will follow its regular schedule. City parks, playgrounds and other greenspaces will also remain open, and confirmed bookings at city ball fields and tennis courts will be honoured.
Events to mark Truth and Reconciliation Day
A number of events are taking place throughout the region to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Eastern Circle and Hearts of Saint John are organizing a virtual event from 2:15 to 3 p.m. Thursday. The groups had planned a series of in-person events outside City Hall but shifted online due to COVID-19.
Quispamsis had planned to hold a ceremony at Meenan’s Cove Park but cancelled the event due to new COVID-19 restrictions. Council voted earlier this month not to make Sept. 30 a statutory holiday for municipal workers.
Rothesay also decided not to make it a statutory holiday, but town hall will close at noon so staff can “learn more about the tragic history of residential schools and their devastating impact on generations of Indigenous families and communities.”
In Hampton, Blessed Trinity Parish will host two sessions at the St. Alphonsus site to share photos, poems and a short video. The afternoon session takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. and the evening session runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Town of Sussex will also hold a public ceremony at Leonard’s Gate from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Officials said it will include a moment of silence, words of respect, and education about the TRC’s Calls to Action.
Saint Andrews has planned a solemn walk from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday. Participants are asked to meet at the Prince of Wales Street Van Horne Trail entrance at Indian Point Park for smudging and a welcome, which will be followed by a walk around Indian Point.
Former Residential School students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health support from the Government of Canada. Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to the Hope for Wellness Help Line 24/7 for counselling and crisis intervention.
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