Today, September 30, marks the fifth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — also known as Orange Shirt Day— a time for Canadians to reflect on the lasting impacts of the residential school system, honour survivors, and remember the thousands of Indigenous children who never made it home.

Between 1857 and 1996, more than 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend government-funded, church-run schools. Stripped of their languages and cultures, many endured physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. At least 6,000 children are known to have died in these schools, though the true number is believed to be far higher.

Across the country, communities are gathering to commemorate the day. In Ottawa, Prime Minister Mark Carney will deliver remarks at the Remembering the Children gathering on Parliament Hill, an event hosted by APTN, CBC, and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. In Toronto, a legacy gathering is being held, while in Vancouver, a memorial walk will bring people together in collective remembrance.

This day is both solemn and urgent: a reminder of the lives lost, the strength of survivors, and the work that remains in advancing reconciliation across Canada.