National Truth & Reconciliation Day, observed on September 30, is a solemn and significant day in Canada that recognizes the tragic legacy of residential schools and the ongoing journey toward healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The day serves as a reminder to all Canadians of the injustices faced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children who were forcibly taken from their families and placed in residential schools as part of government and church-run programs designed to assimilate them.
For over a century, these schools stripped away Indigenous children’s language, culture, and identities, often subjecting them to harsh treatment and neglect. Thousands of children never returned home, and survivors still carry the emotional scars of that time. The truth of these painful experiences was brought into sharper focus by the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which collected the stories of survivors and made 94 calls to action in 2015, urging the government and society to address the damage caused by this system.
At Next Dimension, we are dedicated to the principles of the TRC call to action 92 (ii):
We are actively working towards and are providing time and resources to address the creation of equality for First Nations in our industry.
On September 30, our employees will wear orange in honour of the survivors and to remember those who never returned home. The tradition stems from Orange Shirt Day, which was inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor whose new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at a residential school. For Phyllis, that shirt represented her identity, and its removal was a painful symbol of how Indigenous children were stripped of their sense of self, culture, and dignity.
Wearing orange is a powerful gesture of solidarity. It acknowledges the deep pain and trauma caused by the residential school system and expresses a collective commitment to ensuring such injustices are never repeated. It also reflects a broader support for reconciliation efforts, emphasizing the importance of listening to and learning from Indigenous communities, respecting their histories, and working toward a future based on mutual respect and understanding.
National Truth & Reconciliation Day is not just about remembering the past, but about actively working toward a more just and inclusive future. It encourages all Canadians to educate themselves about the true history of Indigenous peoples in Canada and to take meaningful steps toward reconciliation by advocating for the rights and well-being of Indigenous communities today.
On this day, wearing orange is just the beginning—it’s a symbol of our shared responsibility to learn from the past and build a more compassionate future.