September 30, 2025, will mark the fifth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day where we’re encouraged to take a step back from our day-to-day lives to honour the lives lost, the survivors, and the families and communities impacted by the tragic legacy of the residential school system.
At ACFO-ACAF, we’re committed to building a better future for everyone. This year, we’ve taken the following actions to put our team members in a position to help drive meaningful change within our community:
- ACFO-ACAF staff and members of the Board of Directors had the opportunity to participate in the Kairos Blanket Exercise (KBE). The KBE is an experiential teaching tool that explores the historic and contemporary relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in the land we now know as Canada; and
- ACFO-ACAF donated to the Native Women’s Association of Canada, a National Indigenous Organization that was founded on the collective goal to enhance, promote, and foster the social, economic, cultural, and political well-being of Indigenous women and girls within their respective communities and Canadian societies.
In 2026, we will continue to seek opportunities to educate our staff and board members, ensuring they have the knowledge and tools to advocate for a better future.
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation – Lunch and Learns
Throughout the week leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is hosting a series of webinars that are free to attend and are described as “an immersive experience to un-learn the myths of colonial history in Canada.”
More information, including session titles and registration details, can be found using the links below:
- Monday, September 22, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET: Surviving the Residential School System
- Tuesday, September 23, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET: Uncovering the Truth: Ground Searches
- Event recording, only available in English.
- Wednesday, September 24, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET: The Ongoing Legacy of the Residential School System through Child Welfare
- Event recording, only available in English.
- Thursday, September 25, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET: Reflecting on the TRC’s Calls to Action 10 Years Later
- Thursday, September 25, from 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET: Corporate Conversations on Reconciliation
- Friday, September 26, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET: Confronting Residential School Denialism
Wear orange on September 30
ACFO-ACAF would like to encourage CT Community members to wear an orange shirt on September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, to raise awareness for the intergenerational impacts of residential schools on children, families, and communities.
In addition to wearing an orange shirt, the Government of Canada has released virtual meeting backgrounds for use around the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which you can find linked below:
