Caledon honours National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

By Zachary Roman

September 30 was the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The federal statutory holiday was created in 2021 to remember the children who died at residential schools, and honour those who survived the neglect and abuse they faced at them.

Canada's residential school system is recognized as an act of cultural genocide and its impacts are still felt in Indigenous communities today.

September 30 also marks Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots movement to raise awareness about the impact of residential schools. Former residential school student Phyllis (Jack) Webstad had her new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, taken from her as a six-year-old girl on her first day of residential school. The orange shirt has come to be a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous people over generations.  

“The annual Orange Shirt Day on September 30 opens the door to global conversation on all aspects of residential schools… the date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year,” reads the Orange Shirt Day website.

“It is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.”

On September 30 in Caledon, Mayor Allan Thompson raised the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation flag at Caledon's Town Hall in Caledon East. The flag raising is meant to serve as a symbol to Caledon residents that the Town recognizes the history of Indigenous people in Canada, and that the Town is committed to working towards reconciliation.

Since September 24, Caledon's Town Hall has been lit up by orange lights to show respect to those impacted by the residential school system

The lights will remain on until October 7.

On that day, the Town of Caledon and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) will be signing a new memorandum of understanding.

The Town touts this memorandum as a significant step in formalizing ongoing efforts to create a mutually respectful relationship between the two groups. Mayor Thompson, MCFN Chief Stacey LaForme, representatives from MCFN, Caledon council, and members of the Town's senior leadership team are set to be in attendance at the signing.

Thompson said the memorandum means setting up a relationship where the Town of Caledon will look at everything it does through an environmental lens and Indigenous lens.

“It's been a wonderful, great experience, I've learned so much,” said Thompson.

He also explained the Caledon signs people see when they come into Town will soon say that Caledon is on the treaty lands and territories of the MCFN.

“I have always felt that municipalities play an important role in the work of reconciliation in communities,” said Thompson. “We are proud of the work we have done in Caledon to advance and include Indigenous culture into our plans, policies and service delivery.”

Also happening on October 7 will be the unveiling of an orange crosswalk at the Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness. The crosswalk is being implemented to remember and honour the children who died in residential schools, as well as to acknowledge the strength and resilience of residential school survivors and their descendants.

The Town's chief administrative officer, Carey Herd, said with the crosswalk the Town wants to demonstrate that it's a partner and champion for equity in Caledon.

“The crosswalk serves as a reminder of the role that each of us play in advancing reconciliation within the Caledon community,” said Herd.