To commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30), the City of Airdrie, in partnership with Circle Connections for Reconciliation, invites residents to the Bert Church LIVE Theatre for a special event on Sunday, September 29.
According to the City of Airdrie, residents are invited to a feature film screening of Muffins for Granny by Nadia McLaren at 1:30 p.m. Following the film, at 3:30 p.m., McLaren will present a guided workshop. Admission is free for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. Tickets can be purchased online, and prices for non-Indigenous people are $10 for adults (18+) and $5 for youth (13-17).
Muffins for Granny is an award-winning documentary honouring Theresa McCraw, the filmmaker's grandmother, and features extensive research with community Elders and Residential School Survivors. It received a prestigious grant from the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and is included in the Criterion Collection. Following the screening, there will be a conversation and workshop with filmmaker Nadia McLaren.
City officials confirmed that this is the only event in which the City has partnered with the Circle Connections for Reconciliation for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
City of Calgary
According to the City of Calgary's website, residents are encouraged to attend the Orange Shirt Day Ceremony on Monday, September 30, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland, 750 9 Avenue Southeast.
The website adds that this event will commemorate the victims of Indian residential schools, honour survivors and their families, and promote a commitment to reconciliation. Attendees will hear presentations from various speakers, including the Mayor, Indigenous Elders, and local students.
The ceremony will begin with a blessing from an Elder, followed by entertainment from Indigenous dancers. Participants are strongly encouraged to wear orange to support the children who did not return home from residential schools.
In addition to the ceremony, several prominent buildings, including Olympic Plaza, TELUS Spark Science Centre, and Calgary Tower, will be illuminated in orange in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Flags on the City of Calgary buildings will also be lowered to half-mast.
Several changes will also be made to transit and parking in Calgary. On September 30, Calgary Transit will operate buses, C-trains, and On Demand services at a Saturday level of service.
Additionally, from September 28 until the early hours of October 1, the Blue Line will be closed between Saddletowne and Rundle stations, and shuttle buses will provide service during this period. On September 30, on-street ParkPlus zones will offer free parking. However, regular rates will apply at Calgary Parking parkades and surface lots as well as partner locations like TELUS Spark and the Calgary Zoo.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, honouring the children who never returned home from residential schools and recognizing the Survivors, their families, and their communities. This federal statutory holiday was established to promote awareness of the tragic history and ongoing impacts of residential schools, with an emphasis on reconciliation.
Both this day and Orange Shirt Day, which shares the same date, aim to raise awareness of the intergenerational effects of residential schools, advocating the message "Every Child Matters." Canadians are encouraged to wear orange to show solidarity and remembrance.
From September 23-27, 2024, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation will offer a free virtual educational program for schools, and mental health support will be available for former residential school students through crisis helplines.
This day responds to Call to Action 80 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which emphasized the need for a federal day of commemoration. Funding is provided for community events, with 422 gatherings supported in 2024. Proposals for 2025 activities will open in November 2024.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM.
DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app.