Wednesday, September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Schools across Ottawa are preparing to learn about Canada’s past and honour the survivors of the residential school system. While many federal public servants will have the day off, public schools in Ottawa will still be open. Students, teachers and staff have started laying orange hearts on the front lawn of St. Anne’s Elementary School in Kanata, part of the Orange Heart Garden Project. “Each student was placing a heart in honour of any children that didn’t make it home, their family and survivors for Truth and Reconciliation Day,” said teacher Chantal Remo. Every year, Remo and teacher Nasim Askarinasab come up with a school-wide initiative to honour the day. This year, they decided to create the heart garden to teach students difficult lessons about Canada’s past. “Our school started a week early to learn about the significance of the Truth and Reconciliation Day,” said Askarinasab. Prior to laying of the hearts, Remo prepared the space for positivity. “I smudged the space this morning to get rid of any of the negative energy that was here and make room for good hearts - good minds, good thinking,” said Remo. Teachers at the school will be reading books and share a slideshow prepared by Askarinasab and Remo, explaining the significance of Orange Shirt Day, which coincides with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and the importance of “Every Child Matters.” “To learn more about the past, be responsible today and make change for the future,” said Askarinasab. “The language is simple, but it is important. So, for them to learn why it is important to acknowledge that every child matters.” For Remo, the day holds much more meaning. “Being Indigenous myself, I find it important to bring the history and learning to my classroom and to our school, as well as share it with other classes. I think it’s important because it’s a part of history that they should learn about. It’s an opportunity for us to learn, reflect and educate the whole community,” said Remo. Every student, teacher and staff will receive a heart and by Wednesday, hundreds of hearts will fill the garden. Notre Dame High School is marking the day with the Legacy of Hope installation, featuring the history of residential schools. “I’ve really been looking for ways to actively advance reconciliation. So, how could we make this, at this school for the students and the staff and everybody who’s here, really understand that we all have a part to play in reconciliation,” said Notre Dame High School teacher Jaime Depippo. Elders, knowledge keepers and other family members who have been impacted by the residential school system also shared their stories with the school. “We as a community could really move beyond the textbook of learning, the history, the colonial history within Canada and hear firsthand from survivors and explore the strength and resilience of people who are First Nations, Métis and Inuit,” said Depippo.
