The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is on Monday, September 30, 2024

A new statutory holiday is held to commemorate the legacy of residential schools fulfilling one of many recommendations made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It is observed on September 30 each year.

This is not a public holiday. Only federally regulated workplaces (such as the federal government, banks, post offices, etc.) will be closed in order to observe this new holiday.

In 2023 British Columbia passed legislation to make September 30 a statutory holiday.

Indigenous communities originally opposed to using September 30 because that's when Orange Shirt Day is currently observed. Instead, June 21 was considered as the alternate day, which is currently the National Indigenous Peoples Day. This, however, is only ten days away from Canada Day and would make the two stat holidays too close together.

As this new holiday for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is on the last day of September it will have, perhaps unexpected, implications since no other holiday is on the last day of any month. Real estate purchase and sale closing dates could be affected according to the Canadian Real Estate Association and you should be aware that Canada Post, air transportation and banks will be also closed, disrupting public services on September 30.

Many people noted in their comments that it's not fair that it's only a holiday for government workers, which begs the question: if it was a public holiday, would business owners support this / have the money to pay workers for another holiday?

What do you think? Is the new National Day for Truth and Reconciliation statutory holiday a good idea? Is it the best way to keep alive the legacy of residential schools? Will you attend ceremonies commemorating residential schools? The official name is also quite a mouthful: "National Day for Truth and Reconciliation" and there is a chance this holiday will colloquially be known as the September 30 holiday. Share your comments below.

Featured comments / editor's picks

If the government was really serious, they would have replaced Victoria Day - a much more symbolic way of addressing colonization.Scott
Clean water for Reserves should be highest priority. Start reconciliation with millions of dollars worth of good works across the country. Paying Federal employees for yet another holiday? Absurd.Deb
A lot of complaints here about the government: image what it's like in other countries! Canada's government is generally considered a pretty good one on the world stage.Leonard
I work in a grocery store. I don’t get it. Why is it different for us and government workers. In the pandemic we are considered heroes but don’t deserve the same holiday as the government. I went to work every day and the government people worked from home. Why are they different than the regular person. Jody
The church has finally issued a formal apology but the AFN chief feels "conflicted" read a headline the next day. Next in line is a papal apology. That won't be good enough either. What's next? I fully agree that residential schools and the very idea of them were wrong. But when will reconciliation come to an end? I'm getting a tad tired of this topic dominating news for a long time with no sign of letting up. Sebastian W.D.
This is a paid holiday for federal workers. Why? Where is the money coming from for them? Are they all going to take the day off to help or honor the indigenous people that have been effected by this. If the government wanted to do something the money given to federal employees should have been given directly to the indigenous survivors of these residential schools. They deserve a day off and the money not a federal employee. Gamy
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Recent comments
Posted by Expensive:

My small business with 4 employees has really suffered with the addition of another Stat holiday "National Day for Truth and Reconciliation' and the new 5 paid sick days per year.

Posted by Ahmed :

I believe and in my opinion, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a product of neo liberalism. Fabricated to make Whites guilty. Fabricated to extort financial resources from Whites and from national government.

Posted by Upset Taxpayer:

Correct me if I am wrong (I already know I'm not) but it was the Government that caused this disastrous mess by making the terrible decision to uproot, relocate and displace families and then tear them apart causing unnecessary grief, death and long-lasting psychological repercussions generation after generation - so yeah let's give the Government employees all a day off?! If anything, make the Government employees work and everyone else join ceremonies to honor those who paid the ultimate price, and still do!

Posted by mehrdad:

It is not fair for us as workers to be taxed to pay a day off for the government which is supposed to give us service. If it is only fair if everybody is off.

Posted by Charlene:

I think this should be a day off with pay for everyone to be able to attend or take part in public gatherings even ceremonies that may be taking place not just for government and government associated establishments.

Posted by J Taylor:

What the indeginous parents and children suffered is horrendous. But to recognize that this should never have happened by giving government workers yet another bonus.... that is not the way to do it.

Posted by Heather Walker:

30 September is a day to stop and reflect that as we join the momentum of the return to work and school, colonial efforts resulted in forced removal of Generations of children from their indigenous heritage, and this resulted in many deaths and has had permanent damage to the indigenous communities. So Pause, reflect, and learn

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