Every year on September 30, Canada recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
September 30, 2024 (Vancouver, BC) – Every year on September 30, Canada recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
This day honors the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history of residential schools and their ongoing effects is an essential part of the reconciliation process. This federal holiday was created by legislative amendments made by Parliament.
Just as the Canadian women’s Rugby team did yesterday during their warm-up for their WXV 1 match against France, Rugby Canada encourages all Canadians to wear orange clothing today, to raise awareness of the intergenerational impacts of residential schools on individuals, families and communities.
To recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Rugby Canada will donate $10 for every orange t-shirt sold between now and October 12 to the Musqueam First Nation to support the growth of rugby in this community. By supporting Musqueam, Rugby Canada aims to promote rugby in Indigenous communities.
On September 29, Shalaya Valenzuela, silver medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the first Indigenous woman from Canada to win an Olympic medal in rugby sevens, was on hand at BC Place Stadium during Canada’s match against France to sign orange t-shirts and autographs.
Rugby Canada and Vancouver Sevens are pleased to continue their partnership with the three local First Nations, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), collaborating on territorial recognitions, medal design, photography of captains, and more. This year’s partner was Musqueam and, for the first time in the history of the Vancouver SVNS sevens tournament, the name of the host city was displayed on the central boards of BC Place Stadium in local First Nations languages , hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and sqʷχʷoʔməʃ snit͡ʃim.
As part of Rugby Canada’s Community Rugby Fund initiative which began in 2021, special attention is given to rugby clubs or community organizations whose projects aim to improve inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility of rugby within a club, educational institution or community organization, particularly for Indigenous communities.
Rugby Canada has funded a total of eight Indigenous program-focused projects over the past four years, including four applications from Thunder Indigenous Rugby, the Comox Valley Rapids and John Arnalukjuak High School.
To learn more about Rugby Canada’s Community Rugby Fund, click HERE.
To learn more about National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day, click on the resources below.
National Center for Truth and Reconciliation
Learning resources about First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in Canada
Mental health services
