Email icon Back to Search
Day for Truth and Reconciliation2024

In advance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, the City of Port Moody has raised Every Child Matters flags in front of City Hall and the Recreation Complex. The flags will remain in place until Tuesday, October 1, 2024. The dome of the City Hall building (Civic Centre) will be lit up in orange on September 30, symbolizing the City’s commitment to reconciliation and remembrance of the Indigenous children impacted by Canada’s Residential School System. 

“Canada’s Residential School System separated more than 150,000 Indigenous children from their families and communities, and it’s important that we learn, acknowledge, and remember,” says Mayor Meghan Lahti. “As National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaches, raising Every Child Matters flags is a way for us to honour the children who died at Residential Schools and the children who survived, and to acknowledge the ongoing effects on individuals, families, and communities. 

“As Port Moody is located on the unceded Traditional Territories of the Coast Salish Peoples,” continues Mayor Lahti, “September 30 also serves as an opportunity for all of us to deepen our relationship with local First Nations and work toward meaningful reconciliation. Each of us can choose to learn, listen, reflect, and participate in our own way. For anyone who is not sure where to start, I encourage you to explore the information and resources available through the City’s website as well as the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.” 

There were 140 federally run Residential Schools in Canada that operated between 1867 and 1996. The advocacy of survivors and their calls for recognition, reparations, and accountability culminated in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and the creation of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. The TRC, which ran from 2008 to 2015, provided a platform for survivors and those affected to share their stories and experiences. The TRC’s final report outlined 94 Calls to Action to address the ongoing impacts of Residential Schools and promote healing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation serves as the permanent archive for the statements and materials collected when the TRC was active, ensuring that these stories are preserved for future generations. 

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation itself is a direct response to Call to Action 80, which called for the establishment of a federal statutory holiday to commemorate the children who never returned home, the survivors of Residential Schools, and the continued journey toward reconciliation. 

This day, observed in conjunction with Orange Shirt Day, is meant to honor the resilience of Indigenous Peoples and serve as a powerful reminder of the injustices suffered by Indigenous children in Residential Schools. By wearing orange, residents can show their support and solidarity with survivors and the generations and communities still affected today. 

Learn about the Coast Salish Nations on whose traditional territory the city of Port Moody now resides and find additional resources at portmoody.ca/indigenouspeoples. 

Civic facilities closed, no waste collection September 30 

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a federal statutory holiday that was created through legislative amendments made by Parliament. Please note that all civic facilities, including City Hall, the Recreation Complex, and the Port Moody Public Library, will be closed on Monday, September 30, 2024. 

There will be no waste collection on September 30; pick-up for each zone will move forward one day. View our waste collection schedule to check the collection day for your zone. Sign up at portmoody.ca/solidwasteapp to receive alerts through the PoMobile Solid Waste App.