Truth and Reconciliation: What's Open This Long Weekend

This Monday, September 30, is National Truth and Reconciliation Day (NDTR), a federal statutory holiday and day of remembrance for the Indigenous children who never came home from Canadian residential schools and those who survived them.

A number of businesses and public services are expected to close. Here's what you should know about opening hours this Monday:

Government Services

As a federal public holiday, the NDTR will result in closures of government buildings, including Service Canada locations and passport offices. Parliament Hill also remains closed to visitors.

When it comes to provincial services, some governments, including British Columbia and Nova Scotia, observe the public holiday, but others do not. Check your provincial or territorial government website or call ahead if you plan to stop at your local service center.

The same applies to local government offices, which may follow federal, provincial or territorial public holiday schedules. It's best to find out beforehand.

Schools

Guidelines vary as to whether schools will remain closed this Monday.

For example, schools in Edmonton are reporting “no classes” for the period from September 30th to October 30th. 1 this year, while the Ontario provincial government is not including NDTR in its 2024/2025 holiday calendar.

Be sure to check with your local school district.

Banks

The following major banks include NDTR in their holiday closure plans, although online and telephone banking and ATMs may still be available:

· Royal Bank of Canada

· BMO

· TD Bank

· CIBC

· Scotiabank

· National Bank

Postal services

In compliance with the NDTR, some postal services will be unavailable on Monday, including Canada Post, which will suspend mail pickup and delivery, and Purolator, which is expected to suspend its services.

According to the FedEx calendar, surface transportation will continue Monday in regions including southern Alberta, inland British Columbia, Vancouver Island and Montreal, but express and freight transportation will be suspended for the day.

Private company

It is up to owners of private grocery and retail stores, restaurants, professional services and other businesses whether they remain open on NDTR, although they may follow their province or territory's statutory holiday schedules.

What is National Truth and Reconciliation Day?

National Truth and Reconciliation Day is an annual holiday honoring those affected by Canada's residential schools.

The residential school system, which lasted for more than a century until just before the turn of the millennium, forced Indigenous children to be removed from their homes and families and placed in government-run schools across the country.

As detailed in Truth and Reconciliation Commission reports, children in residential schools were subjected to systematic racism aimed at erasing their cultural practices, language and identity. Experiences of emotional, physical and sexual abuse often appear in survivors' stories.

In 2021, the federal government declared September 30 a public holiday, coinciding with Orange Shirt Day, an annual day of remembrance inspired by events to “commemorate the residential school experience, the healing journey of survivors and their families.” “To witness and honor “commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation,” as the Orange Shirt Society describes it.

Subsequently, some provincial governments have passed legislation to recognize the legal day in their own jurisdictions.

You can learn more about the history of residential schools in Canada here.