Today - September 30, 2021 - Canada marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.
Hotel Dieu Shaver humbly joins all Canadians across the country in recognizing this day and our ongoing commitment to be a healing presence in our community. Hotel Dieu Shaver remains committed to building relationships with Indigenous Peoples as we journey together to ensure that justice, healing and reconciliation is available to all.
Alongside National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, September 30 is already known as Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who did not. This day relates to the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, on her first day of school, where she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
On this National Day of Truth of Reconciliation our HDS staff and physicians don orange shirts & ribbons to raise awareness of the very tragic legacy of residential schools, and to honour the thousands of survivors. Our Canadian Flag has also been placed at half-mast, as we reflect on our country’s history and present day truths, as well as to commemorate the survivors, their families, and their communities.
As our colleagues wear orange today, we reflect on the past and present impacts of colonialism in Canada, and continue to learn from the past and build openness and trust to work towards reconciliation and healing.
