September 30th marks the third National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the newest federal Statutory holiday.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day to reflect on the impacts of residential schools, honour survivors of residential schools, their families, their communities and all of those who never made it home, and learn more about the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples.
Though Alberta is not recognizing it as a provincial holiday, it is a holiday in Edmonton with Edmonton Public Library and Edmonton Schools closed.
It is also a holiday in St. Albert and Strathcona County.
Here are some things to do in Edmonton to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:
For all other events taking place this weekend, see Things to Do This Weekend in Edmonton
Free Admission – AGA
To mark the importance of this day, the AGA is offering free admission to visitors with the support of Capital Power, inviting the public to reflect on our truth and history as part of our commitment toward reconciliation. Details
Saturday, September 30, 2023 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Art Gallery of Alberta, 2 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton
Free admission
Orange Shirt Day
In recognition of Orange Shirt Day, and in the name of Truth and Reconciliation and the creation of an inclusive, safe space, TELUS World of Science – Edmonton will host tipi raising, lighting of the Qulliq, performance by the Abraham Lake Singers and Inuit drumming by Malachi Angulalik, and Indigenous Vendors Market. Details
Saturday, September 30, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
TELUS World of Science – Edmonton, 11211 142 Street NW, Edmonton
Included with Science Centre Admission
FREE general admission for Indigenous guests
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Display
Kingsway Mall honours the survivors of the residential school system and honours the memory of those children who have been lost.
Guests of the mall can visit a display on the main level near the Starbucks. The display recognizes the resilience of Indigenous people in our community and across the continent and will culminate in a lighting of the candles on September 30th.
September 28 to 30, 2023
Kingsway Mall, 109 Street & Kingsway, Edmonton
Free
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Strathcona County
Strathcona County will commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, with events at Broadmoor Lake Park Plaza and Gallery@501. The day will include blessings, a smudging ceremony, Indigenous speakers, and an Honour Walk to pay homage to residential school victims. Attendees can enjoy Métis displays, community services, refreshments, and explore the “Ni’kmaq – My Family” and “Resilience” art exhibits by Nelson White, Margaret Witschl, and Delio Delgado, creating a multifaceted educational and reflective experience. Details
Saturday, September 30, 2023 | 12 – 5 PM
Broadmoor Lake Park, County Hall, Gallery@501, Sherwood Park
Free
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – St Albert
Join us for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Mission Park this September 30 to honour the survivors of and the children who never returned home from residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Enjoy guest speakers, knowledge keepers, performers, local artisans, exhibits, and food vendors. Join others from the community for an Honour Walk from Mission Park to Kâkesimokamik/The Healing Garden. Details
Saturday, September 30 | 9 AM to 3 PM
Mission Park, 15 Mission Avenue, St Albert
Free
Free Park and Ride: 8:40 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. from St. Albert Centre Transit to downtown St. Albert. The bus will stop at Mission Park before it stops at the St. Albert Farmers’ Market.
Annual Orange Shirt Day Run/Walk – Every Child Matters
Run/Walk in support and awareness of those who did not survive the Residential school era and for those who did. This event aims to raise funds for the OrangeShirtDay.org and local grassroots movements including promoting and supporting Indigenous athletes. This will be a combination of pavement and trail run through the beautiful YEG river valley trails starting at Kinsmen Park and includes three distances of 5 & 10 km and a kids 2.15 km. Details
September 30, 2023 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
River Valley Walterdale, Edmonton
$17 & up
Royal Alberta Museum
Royal Alberta Museum has more than 18,000 objects of Indigenous origin. These objects date from the mid-1800s to the present. Visit RAM to learn more about indigenous history of Alberta.
Visitors can join in on story time in the Book Nook, watch film screenings by an Indigenous filmmaker, and learn about the history, impacts, and acts of reconciliation they can implement in their own life.
Visitors are welcome and encouraged to wear an orange shirt when they visit on September 30.
Saturday, September 30, 2023 | 10 AM to 4 PM
Royal Alberta Museum, 9810 103a Avenue NW, Edmonton
Regular Admission, Admission is always free for Indigenous Peoples.
Indigenous Peoples Experience
Gather and explore life through the diversity of First Nations and Métis peoples’ histories, cultures, experiences, and perspectives, local to Indigenous life in the Beaver Hills, or Edmonton region. In partnership with the City of Edmonton, the Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park will be open as a ticketed opportunity on Saturday, September 30 for your group to seek out the truths as lived by Indigenous peoples before and after Canada became a country. Details
September 30, 2023 | 10 AM to 4 PM
Indigenous Peoples Experience – Fort Edmonton Park7000 143 St NW
Edmonton
Only the Indigenous Peoples Experience will be open. All other Fort Edmonton Park attractions will be closed.
Ages 12+ up are $5.00 per guest/Ages 11+ under are FREE
West Edmonton Mall – NDTR
An informative day of Indigenous history, ceremony and tradition. Learn the meaning behind The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the impact it had on indigenous peoples in this region. Live teachings from local elders and stories from younger generations impacted by residential schools.
The day will include teachings, stories, dancing, drumming, and a traditional circle dance. Also, at the event – local Indigenous artisans and a tipi. Come show your support and learn about local history.
September 30, 2023 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
WEM Centre Stage, Level One, Phase I , Edmonton
Free
Root for Trees
Root for Trees will be gifting native species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers as a way to honour the victims, families, friends, and intergenerational survivors of Residential Schools. This event is in partnership with the city’s Indigenous Relations Office, and the community-led Orange Shirt Day Walk/Run. In addition to the tree and shrub giveaway, there will be various Indigenous organizations, vendors, activities, and the walk/run. We encourage Edmontonians to show their support by wearing an orange shirt to this special event.
Saturday, September 30, 2023 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Kinsmen Park, Edmonton
Free
Bent Arrow Presents Orange Shirt Day
Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society will hold its event for The National Day For Truth and Reconciliation. Events include a smudge, prayer, meal, dances, and opening remarks, followed by a panel discussion involving Knowledge Keepers, a presentation by Bearhead Sisters, and a Q&A session.
Saturday, September 30, 2023 | 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, 11648 85 Street Northwest, Edmonton
Free
Nékem: Honouring National Day For Truth and Reconciliation
The intention of this gathering is to create a space for sharing stories of healing through reconnection to culture and strengthen awareness of the unique experiences of Indigenous Peoples today. Sharing will focus on the next generation of Indigenous Peoples who need to heal from the trauma and provide a safe space for all Indigenous peoples to be heard, to grow and to heal.
George Burnstick and the Abraham Lake Singers will be opening following prayer. Soup and Bannock will also be provided.
Saturday, September 30, 2023 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
CO*LAB – Community {Arts} Laboratory, 9641 102A Avenue Northwest, Edmonton
Free
KAIROS Blanket Exercise
The KAIROS Blanket Exercise (KBE) is an experiential teaching tool based on participatory popular education methodology that explores the historic and contemporary relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in the land we now know as Canada.
Saturday, September 30, 2023 | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Queen Mary Park Community League Hall, 10844 117 Street Northwest Edmonton
Orange Shirt Day
Come together to honour those who survived the residential school system and those who did not. Join us for the grand opening of the new Pimiy Ôcenas Nâtawîhowin Askiy (Devon Healing Medicine Grounds). The event features a pipe ceremony, park dedication, guest speakers, lunch, activities including story-telling, rock painting, and button-making, a community walk, sunflower planting take-home gifts, closing acknowledgements, and an Orange Shirt Fundraiser, fostering remembrance and education on the residential school system. Details
Saturday, September 30 | 9 AM to 4 PM
Pimiy Ôcenas Nâtawîhowin Askiy (Devon Healing Medicine Grounds), 10 River Drive, Devon
Free
Walk together for Truth & Reconciliation
Wear your Orange Shirt, walk together for 1.5km, and then join as we listen, share, and connect with others ending with a free feast. Details
Saturday, September 30 | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Heritage Pavillion,
5100 41 Ave, Stony Plain
Free
APTN National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
In honour of the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), APTN, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) and the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation will join forces to produce a 90-minute multilingual commemoration. The gathering will be broadcast live across the country from Parliament Hill, on the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.
Saturday, September 30 | Various Hours
APTN Lumi or by watching APTN on your local TV network.
Free
Public Library
Read or get resources from Edmonton Public Library online (closed on Sept 30th).
- EPL’s Reading List to learn more about Indigenous Canada.
- 37 books by Indigenous writers: a booklist designed to help readers understand residential schools by Strathcona County Library
Learn More:
- Indigenous peoples and cultures
- Indigenous languages
- Indigenous history
- Residential Schools Recommended Reading for Adults & TeensResidential Schools Recommended Reading for Children
Wear Orange
September 30th is also Orange Shirt Day, which is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who did not. This day relates to the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, on her first day of school, where she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations. Details
Exhibitions & Art
Visit Art Galleries online to learn more about indigenous peoples’ way of life, their art and culture.
- Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre: Visit this art gallery to take in artworks by contemporary artists. (Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre, 10124 96 Street NW, Edmonton)
- Explore Edmonton’s Indigenous Art Park at ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11∞ – Queen Elizabeth Park (10380 Queen Elizabeth Park Rd)
- Visit Healing Garden / Kâkesimokamik in St. Albert
- Rediscover Alberta from an Indigenous point of view.
- Learn more about indigenous history and the history and legacy of residential schools through movies for free on the National Film Board of Canada website.
Being Prepared, Carol Kunnuk, provided by the National Film Board of Canada
You may like:
Indigenous-Owned Businesses in Edmonton
You can show your support for Canada’s Indigenous with visits to these businesses on September 30th and any time of the year.
What is Open-Closed
September 30th is a federal statutory holiday. All federally regulated companies and Crown-owned corporations like Service Canada, banks, Canada Post etc.: Closed
Malls, grocery stores: Open
Schools:
- Edmonton Public Schools and Catholic School: Closed
- University of Alberta: Closed
- MacEwan University: Closed on Sept 30, No Regular Session classes. on October 2
City of Edmonton Tourist Attractions:
All tourist attractions are open unless they are closed due to seasonal closure.
Libraries:
- Closed
Leisure/Recreational Facilities:
Edmonton Transit:
- Normal Service
Garbage collection:
- Normal Service
Although EPSB is honoring TRC – this day is a Saturday and EPSB is not giving a weekday off in lieu like ECSD and Blackgold School Division.
Your site is providing misinformation. EPSB is not honoring TRC with a day of closure. ECDS is and Blackgold school division is, but not EPSB. Why is this?? You should print a retraction or correction.
Please see here: https://www.epsb.ca/calendars/printablecalendars/. This year, Sept 30 is on a Saturday. It was a holiday in 2022 and 2021 and will be in 2024 (https://www.epsb.ca/media/epsb/calendars/EPSB_School_Year_Calendar_2024-25.pdf).