September: A month of new beginnings, of remembering and rebuilding
- office242617
- Sep 30
- 2 min read

Children return to school, families settle back into familiar routines, and many workers come back from summer vacations. Yet, September is also a time for remembering and rebuilding. On September 30, we collectively recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.
This day honours the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children who were forcibly taken from their families and placed in residential schools. It remembers those who never came home and honours the survivors, their families, and their communities.
Orange Shirt Day, also observed on September 30, is a national movement to recognize and affirm the experiences of residential school survivors and their ongoing journey of healing.
The legacy of residential schools is one of profound loss and lasting harm. These institutions disrupted generations of Indigenous lives, cultures, and communities—creating intergenerational trauma that continues to affect Indigenous Peoples across the country. The last residential school closed in 1996—less than 30 years ago. For many non-Indigenous Canadians, the full scope and impact of the residential school system is still being uncovered. We must continue to listen, to learn, and to participate in meaningful change.
Truth and Reconciliation is not a single day of reflection. It is a daily commitment to remembrance, rebuilding, and reparation. We are called not only to mourn but to move—to act. Real reconciliation is deep. It is disruptive. It is demanding. It requires us not only to hear the truth, but to live differently in response to it.
At Community Development Halton (CDH), we are deeply grateful for the advocacy, resilience, and determination of Indigenous Peoples who have worked tirelessly to have their truths acknowledged and understood. We recognize that knowledge without action is performance, and performance alone will not heal, nor will it bring about lasting change.
We know we have much to learn. We acknowledge that we may make mistakes. But we also know that we have a role to play in the work of healing—and that our role must be guided by humility, respect, and intention.
September 30 is a day for education, reflection, and listening. As we observe this day, we honour the Survivors and communities who have courageously shared their stories. Together, we must ensure that the lived experiences, voices, and cultures of Indigenous Peoples are not only heard—but meaningfully woven into the fabric of Canada’s national story.
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