The Parksville Civic and Technology Centre will be lighted in orange and have a commemorative flag flying from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3, in honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
In 2021, the federal government passed Bill C-5, which officially designated National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, to recognize and commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada.
The day honours the children who never returned home and the strength of residential school survivors, as well as the resiliency of their families and communities.
“We encourage everyone to reflect on the legacy of the residential schools and consider how we can show our support for survivors, their families and communities as we move towards acknowledgement of the truth and the journey towards healing and meaningful reconciliation,” said Mayor Ed Mayne.
READ MORE: B.C. First Nation connects reconciliation and healing through education
Sept. 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, intended to raise awareness of the inter-generational impacts of residential schools and to promote the concept of ‘Every Child Matters.’
The city encourages all to wear orange to honour the thousands of survivors of residential schools. Aligned with the federal and provincial governments, city offices will be closed on Friday, Sept. 30.
The City of Parksville recognizes with gratitude, the people of the Coast Salish Nations and the traditional territory of the Snaw-Naw-As and Qualicum First Nations upon which we live, work and play.
To learn more about the history of residential schools or to read the Memorial Register of children who attended residential schools and never returned home, visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website at https://nctr.ca/
— NEWS Staff, submitted