National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Sept. 30, 2025
Free
English:
- 9 am to 7 pm
French:
- 9 am to 7 pm
September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. This day recognizes the legacy of residential schools and honours the victims and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and their communities.
Part of the role of the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum is to share stories and provide opportunities to learn more about lesser-known parts of our history. We are collaborating with Indigenous communities and Survivors to revise the information on residential schools and Indigenous histories in our exhibitions and programs to ensure they reflect the evolving situation and centre the experiences of Survivors. This important work continues.
MUSEUM ACCESS ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
The Museum is open from 9 am to 7 pm, with free admission all day.
Don’t forget to reserve your ticket in advance.
11 am
Morning ceremony – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Be part of a meaningful morning ceremony in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The ceremony will begin with a traditional prayer and smudging, grounding the event in respect and intention. Visitors will hear reflections on the significance of the Indian Residential School Memorial Monument and on the ongoing journey of truth and reconciliation. A moving cultural performance featuring Indigenous dancers and drummers will follow.
A video message from Kwaguʼł master carver Stanley C. Hunt, creator of the Monument, a monumental sculpture that invites us to bear witness to the lasting harm caused by Canada’s Indian residential school system, will offer insight into its meaning and creation. The ceremony will also include a powerful testimonial from a residential school Survivor, speaking to the deep personal impact of these histories and the importance of truth-telling.
The ceremony will close with a prayer and song, honouring the strength and legacy of the children who never returned home and those who survived.
Jade, Stanley C. Hunt’s granddaughter, with the Monument.
Image courtesy of Nicole Hunt.
Time: 11 am
Location: Four Seasons Salon, home to the Indian Residential School Memorial Monument — a space that calls us to bear witness.
Fees and booking information: Free. Seating in the Four Seasons Salon is limited. Visitors who wish to attend must pick up a free ticket at the Information desk, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Live Broadcast Viewing: Grand Hall, Museum website and social media channels
1 pm
Documentary screening – Return to the Falls: A Journey of Resilience and Survival
Discover the strength of the human spirit in Return to the Falls: A Journey of Resilience and Survival. This powerful documentary, featuring Elder Betty Ross, shares her courageous story at St. Joseph’s Residential School in Cross Lake, Manitoba. Through themes of survival, sacred teachings, and enduring strength, the film offers a moving tribute to resilience and healing.
Elder Ross, Knowledge Keeper Sandy Robinson and director Eppo Eerkes will be present and available for a Q & A session following the screening.
Time: 1 pm
Location: CINÉ+
Fees and booking information: Free
3 pm
Live broadcast – Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Gather in CINÉ+ for the live broadcast of Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, streamed from Parliament Hill. This national ceremony honours the children lost to the residential school system and the Survivors who carry their stories forward. All are welcome to witness, reflect, and stand together in remembrance.
Time: 3 pm
Location: CINÉ+ (English) and Theatre (French)
Fees and booking information: Free
Exhibitions to visit
The Museum is one of the many places you can visit to learn more about — and be unsettled by — the history and impact of residential schools in Canada.
We strongly recommend that you start your visit in the residential schools section of the Canadian History Hall.
Visitors are also invited to learn more through the histories, voices and artworks presented in the Grand Hall and the First Peoples Hall.
Ongoing exhibition
The Canadian History Hall
Featuring countless stories of individuals and groups that shaped Canada, this signature exhibition offers an
Ongoing exhibition
Grand Hall
Offering spectacular panoramic views of the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill, the Museum’s Grand Hall
Ongoing exhibition
First Peoples Hall
This engaging and thought-provoking space shares the stories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis in
Mental health supports available
A National Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides emotional support and crisis referral services for former residential school students and their families. These services are available free of charge, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-866-925-4419.
Indigenous people across Canada can also access the Hope for Wellness Helpline. Call the toll-free helpline at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat (please use Google Chrome).
