Smiths Falls hosting Sept. 30 ceremony for Truth and Reconciliation

The Town of Smiths Falls is inviting residents to gather for a ceremony marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The event will take place Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. at Centennial Park, followed by a procession to the Healing Circle on Duck Island.

The Bandstand at Town Square will be illuminated in orange from Sept. 29 to Oct. 6, and the Every Child Matters flag will be raised at Lower Reach Park in recognition of the day.

“As Canadians, we carry a shared moral responsibility to acknowledge the profound and painful history endured by Indigenous peoples in this country. On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to come together with Indigenous communities to honor the survivors and reflect on the lasting impacts of residential schools. Our commitment to truth and reconciliation is not limited to a single day—it is a continuous journey rooted in understanding, respect, and meaningful action,” said Mayor Shawn Pankow.

The ceremony will begin with a Land Acknowledgement and opening remarks from Pankow, followed by an address from Tim Bisaillon, a member of the Indigenous community and descendant of residential school survivors.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, first observed in 2021, is a federal statutory holiday that grew out of the grassroots Orange Shirt Day movement. The movement was inspired by Phyllis Webstad, who had her orange shirt taken away on her first day at a residential school. The day honours survivors of the residential school system and remembers the children who never came home.

Residents across Canada wear orange shirts on Sept. 30 to mark the day and to reaffirm a commitment to reconciliation, healing and building safe environments for Indigenous communities.