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Commemorating National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Together at the Arbour

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Kamloops, BC—The City of Kamloops and Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc are pleased to announce a first-ever joint initiative to commemorate the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation with an event on Friday, September 27, 2024, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Arbour. The event will include engaging activities, cultural teachings, tours of the Kamloops Residential School, and a one-mile Orange Shirt Day Walk beginning at 3:00 pm.

“The City is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc to mark this time of observance, which was established to honour the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools,” said Deputy Mayor Stephen Karpuk. “Only through ongoing collaboration can we continue the work of reconciliation that our two communities have fostered so diligently in recent years. I encourage all residents of Kamloops to attend, listen, learn, and respect the truths shared throughout the event.”

"The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day is an important opportunity to show allyship, honour survivors, and continue the journey of healing and education,” said Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir. As we partner with the City of Kamloops on this significant day for the first time, we express gratitude and together we are proud to serve our communities in unity, ensuring that we lead by example through our shared commitment to the implementation of Truth and Reconciliation."

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation commemorative event will be free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to wear an orange shirt and comfortable shoes for the walk. To register in advance for a Kamloops Residential School tour, please email events@ttes.ca.

This event is sponsored in part by Heritage Canada.

The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation became a federal statutory holiday in 2021 and is marked on September 30 each year, the historical day of observance for Orange Shirt Day. Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led, grassroots observance to raise awareness of the inter-generational impacts of residential schools on individuals, families, and communities. The orange shirt symbolizes the stripping away of culture, freedom, and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.