Events in Ottawa to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Honoring National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

A unique look inside Rideau Hall

The National Day for Truth & Reconciliation at Beechwood Cemetery

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

According to the federal government, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours “the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools.”

Orange Shirt Day is also marked on September 30.

“Orange Shirt Day is a commemorative day led by Indigenous communities to raise awareness about the intergenerational impacts of residential schools on children, families, and communities. It honours Indigenous children who were lost in the residential school system,” the federal government said on its website.

“The orange shirt symbolizes the loss of culture, freedom, and self-esteem that many Indigenous children experienced. This day reminds us that ‘Every Child Matters.’”

CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at some of the events in Ottawa to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

National Commemorative Gathering

The national commemorative gathering for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be held on Parliament Hill Tuesday afternoon.

The 90-minute commemorative event, titled “Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” will begin at 3 p.m.

It will be broadcast live on APTN.

Rideau Hall

Rideau Hall is hosting a special Doors Open event on Sunday, Sept. 28 in the lead up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Visitors will have a chance to learn about Indigenous cultures, stories and traditions by viewing Indigenous artwork throughout the residence.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Beechwood National Memorial Centre

You’re invited to Beechwood Cemetery on Tuesday to walk the grounds for a 45-minute Reconciliation Tour.

Beechwood Cemetery says you can learn from key historical figures who were involved in the Residential Schools and learn about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action.

There will be a ceremony at 2:15 p.m.

Canadian Museum of History

The Canadian Museum of History will host events to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

There will be a morning ceremony at 11 a.m.

“Visitors will hear reflections on the significance of the Indian Residential School Memorial Monument and on the ongoing journey of truth and reconciliation,” the museum said. “A moving cultural performance featuring Indigenous dancers and drummers will follow.”

At 1 p.m., there will be a documentary screening of “Return to the Falls: A Journey of Resilience and Survival.”

There will be a live broadcast of the “Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation” event from Parliament Hill at 3 p.m.

Admission to the Canadian Museum of History is free on Sept. 30. The museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is hosting a special Indigenous-led education event called Wahkohtowin: Buffalo and Moose Hide Experience until Oct. 2.

Visitors are invited to join the Buffalo Culture Collective to help prepare two buffalo hides and one moose hide for tanning. Learn about buffalo science and the history of buffalo on Turtle Island through hands-on learning.

The event is daily between 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

On Tuesday, the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is hosting a screening of the film Singing Back the Buffalo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Other events on Tuesday include Kindness rocks craft.

The Diefenbunker

The Diefenbunker is hosting two ceremonies on Tuesday to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

At 9 a.m., there will be a ceremony featuring the dedication of a permanent land acknowledgment installation outside the Diefenbunker Museum.

At 10 a.m., there will be a public ceremony, featuring the lighting of a sacred fire, cultural presentations, and traditional teachings from Knowledge Keepers and Elders, alongside reflections from community leaders.

Both ceremonies are free to attend.

W.J. Bell Rotary Peace Park

The Legacy of Hope Foundation and the Ottawa Stittsville Rotary Club invite you to a Truth and Reconciliation Event on Tuesday.

Activities include a craft table, a reflective walk along the park trails, and the laying of painted rocks.

The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the W.J. Bell Rotary Peace Park in Stittsville.

“We noticed that there wasn’t any Truth and Reconciliation celebration or event in Stittsville, so we decided to work with the Legacy of Hope Foundation and make that happen,” David Rooke of the Ottawa Stittsville Rotary Club told CTV’s Your Morning Ottawa.

University of Ottawa

The University of Ottawa is hosting a ceremony to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Tuesday.

The ceremony will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the University Square.

Special Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica

The Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall invites you to a special mass on Tuesday for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Archbishop Marcel Damphousse will preside over the bilingual Mass at 7:00 p.m. at Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica on Sussex Drive.

Canadian War Museum

The Canadian War Museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Admission is free.

Ottawa Public Library

The Ottawa Public Library says seven branches will be open on Tuesday to provide “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Learning and Action Space.” The following branches will be open from 10 am to 5 pm:

• Beaverbrook, 2500 Campeau Drive
• Cumberland, 1599 Tenth Line Road
• Greenboro, 363 Lorry Greenberg Drive
• Main,120 Metcalfe Street
• Nepean Centrepointe,101 Centrepointe Drive
• Ruth E. Dickinson, 100 Malvern Drive
• St Laurent, 515 Côté Street