City to commemorate Orange Shirt Day on Sept. 27

As we approach Orange Shirt Day, also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, we recognize one of the first steps toward reconciliation is truth.

Everyone is welcome to attend City Hall on Friday Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. as we raise and lower to half-mast the Every Child Matters flag in partnership with the Niagara Regional Native Centre (NRNC). Join us as we hear from Indigenous leaders in our community and connect through singing and drumming. Parking is free in Market Square and surrounding metres from 9 a.m to 12 p.m.

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community intergenerational impacts of residential schools. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by 150,000 Indigenous children removed and separated from their families between the 1870s and late 1990s. Those who attend are encouraged to wear orange to show their support of reconciliation and the enduring truth that “Every Child Matters”.

“We are honoured to continue our partnership with the NRNC for Orange Shirt Day,” said Shannon McHugh, Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, adding the City is proud of its Memorandum of Understanding it established with the NRNC in 2018. “Coming together to honour the lives lost to residential schools allows for much-needed reflection on our past and allows us to continue moving forward on our shared journey towards reconciliation."

Everyone is also encouraged, if able, to bring non-perishable food items in support of the food pantries at NRNC and the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre. Donations will continue to be accepted through to Oct. 9 at City Hall (Citizens First, Second Floor, and Mayor’s Office, Third Floor) as well as at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre and select St. Catharines Public Library Locations.

“On Sept. 30, I encourage all residents to take the time to honour those survivors of Canada's residential school system and recognize the lasting harm that was caused by it,” said Mayor Mat Siscoe. “Take the opportunity to learn about our nation’s history, and the treatment of the Indigenous peoples that led us to the events of today. All of us need to reflect on the legacy of residential schools, and the impact those schools had on their victims, the survivors and their descendants.”

A National Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1.866.925.4419 is available 24/7 to provide support to those impacted by residential schools.

Residents are encouraged to check out the City’s Indigenous Relations webpage to learn more about the City’s ongoing partnership with the NRNC and upcoming initiatives.

What’s closed on Sept. 30

As a reminder, City Hall, St. Catharines Enterprise Centre, and Victoria Lawn Cemetery administration office will be closed on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

What’s open on Sept. 30

Victoria Lawn Cemetery visitation is always available from dawn to dusk.

All City recreational facilities, including Lakeside Park Carousel, arenas, community centres, and older adult centres, will be open on Sept. 30 for regular business hours and programming.