September 30th marks the fifth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a federal Statutory holiday.
Fort Edmonton Park Indigenous Peoples Experience
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 does not recognize it as a provincial holiday, it is a holiday in Edmonton, with the 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
Royal Alberta Museum
In Honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Royal Alberta Museum is hosting a screening of WaaPaKe (Tomorrow). For generations, the suffering of Indian Residential School System Survivors has radiated outward, impacting Indigenous families and communities. Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin’s deeply personal documentary WaaPaKe (Tomorrow) moves beyond intergenerational trauma, with an invitation to unravel the tangled threads of silence and unite in collective freedom and power.
Wednesday September 30, 2026 | 1:30 – 3 PM
Royal Alberta Museum, 9810 103a Ave, Edmonton
Free with admission
Fort Edmonton Park
September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to honour the children who never returned home, survivors of residential schools, and their families.
In partnership with the City of Edmonton, the Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park will be open as a ticketed event on Wednesday, September 30, offering you an opportunity to learn the truths of Indigenous life before and after the formation of Canada.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 9:30 AM to 4 PM
Indigenous Peoples Experience – Fort Edmonton Park7000 143 St NW
Edmonton
Guests will be transported to and from the Indigenous Peoples Experience by shuttle bus due to construction on-site.
Ages 12 & up: $5.00/guest
Ages 11 & under: FREE
West Edmonton Mall – NDTR
September 30, 2026 | 11 AM to 4 PM
Centre Stage, Level One, Phase I., WEM , 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. This event offers a space to honour the experiences of Indigenous communities and engage in the ongoing journey toward healing.
This year’s theme is: Honouring the Walk of Healing: Through Stories. Join us for entertainment, crafts and activities, keynote speakers, and breakout storytelling sessions on the past and future of Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 9:30 AM – 1:15 PM
Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, 11648 85 Street Northwest, Edmonton
Free
Muttart Conservatory
The Muttart Conservatory recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We invite our community to gather, connect with nature and reflect on our shared journey on Treaty 6 territory.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 10 AM – 5 PM; Adults only from 5- 9 PM
Muttart Conservatory. 9626 96A Street, Edmonton
Self-declared Indigenous Peoples receive free admission.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Spruce Grove
Together, we’ll honour the truths and lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples while exploring what reconciliation can look like as we move forward. How do we build authentic collaboration? How do we move beyond tokenism, guilt, and blame toward meaningful relationships and shared responsibility?
Gather as One and explore what it truly means to work together as One People. Through conversation, shared experiences, food, live music, and laughter, we’ll consider how stronger relationships can be built through understanding, respect, and genuine collaboration.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 6:30 PM to 9 PM
Horizon Stage, Spruce Grove
Free
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Strathcona County
Join Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers and keynote speaker Bert Crowfoot to honour those affected by residential and day schools.
Hot chocolate and bannock will be offered, and the event will conclude with an honour walk.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 2 – 3:30 PM
Festival Place, 100 Festival Way, 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
Wednesday, September 30, 2026| 12-4 p.m.
Mission Park, 15 Mission Avenue, St Albert
Free
Orange Shirt Day
Join us on the Journey of Reconciliation as we gather to honour the truth, listen deeply to survivors, and commit to collective action on Treaty 6 Territory and District 11 of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Details
Wednesday, September 30 | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Walk to Begin and End at the Medicine Park, 10 River Drive, Devon
Free
APTN National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
In honour of the 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.
Wednesday, 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 peoples with visits to these businesses on September 30th and any time of the year.
What is Open-Closed
Malls, grocery stores: Open
Schools:
- Edmonton Public Schools and Catholic Schools: Closed
- University of Alberta: Closed
- MacEwan University: Closed
City of Edmonton Tourist Attractions:
All tourist attractions are open unless they are closed for the season.
Libraries:
- Closed
Leisure/Recreational Facilities:
Edmonton Service Centre and 311
- The Edmonton Service Centre and 311 will be closed. After-hours services will be available for urgent bylaw or public safety concerns.
Edmonton Transit:
- Normal Service
- All school special bus routes are cancelled, including Route 622 and short Route 4 trips
Waster Services:
- All Eco Station locations will be closed.
- The Edmonton Waste Management Centre will be operating under holiday hours.
The Animal Care and Control Centre will be closed.
View Comments (3)
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).