September 30 marks the sixth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day provides an opportunity to honour those who lost their lives in the residential school system, as well as survivors, their families, and their communities.

Upcoming learning opportunities 

We recognize this day as an opportunity to provide our staff, Board of Directors, and the ACFO-ACAF Community with resources to learn about the history of the residential school system and the role we all play in creating a better future for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.   

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation – Lunch and Learns 

From September 21 to 25, 2026, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation will be hosting daily Lunch and Learn webinars. These sessions are an opportunity to un-learn the myths of colonial history in Canada. 

The name, date, and time of each session are outlined below. ACFO-ACAF members can visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website to register for any sessions that interest them.  

Each session will have simultaneous English, French, and ASL interpretation. 

• Protecting Survivor Truths: Holding and Preserving Indigenous Lived Experience (Monday, September 21, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET) 
• Economic Reconciliation: Understanding Opportunities, Responsibilities, and Impact (Tuesday, September 22, from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm ET) 
• Growing and Strengthening Indigenous-Newcomer Solidarity (Tuesday, September 22, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET) 
• Continuing the Conversation on Residential School Denialism (Wednesday, September 23, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET) 
• Honouring Indigenous Leadership: Perspectives for a Shared Future (Thursday, September 24, from 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET) 
• Indigenous Youth Perspectives on Health and Wellbeing (Friday, September 25, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET) 

Indigenous Support and Awareness Office 

The Indigenous Support and Awareness Office is also hosting sessions in September in advance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  

• Inuit in Canada (Thursday, September 17, from 1:00 – 3:00 pm ET)
  • Attendees will explore Inuit history, governance, language, arts and culture, demographics, and land claims. The session will be hosted in English.  
  • To register, please contact Barry Pottle at barry.pottle3@agr.gc.ca.  
• Truth Before Reconciliation: Confronting Residential School Denialism (Monday, September 21, from 12:00 – 1:30 pm ET)
  • Attendees will learn how to identify and confront residential school denialism. The session will be hosted in English. 
  • To register, please contact Steven Hennessey at steve.hennessey@agr.gc.ca. 

Show support on September 30 

Members of the ACFO-ACAF Community are encouraged to wear an orange shirt on September 30 to raise awareness of the impact of residential schools.  

In addition, while September 30 is a statutory holiday, the Government of Canada has released virtual meeting backgrounds for use around the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. You can access the backgrounds using this link.