New legislation has been introduced which would enshrine the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as an official statutory holiday in BC.
If passed, it would make BC just the second province to officially recognize September 30th as a stat in honour of the commemorative day.
Ottawa first established the day as a Federal holiday in 2021, but it has been honoured in a growing capacity as Orange Shirt Day since 2013.
It gets its name from a story shared by survivor Phyllis Webstad regarding her first day attending the St Joseph’s Mission Residential School.
At just 6 years old, Wesbtad was stripped of all of her belongings, including the new orange shirt given to her by her grandmother.
Now, September 30th stands as a day to recognize and reflect on the impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous peoples, and build toward a brighter future.
If the legislation passes, it’ll serve as a day off for all employees in BC.
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