NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF ORILLIA
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The City of Orillia joins the federal and provincial governments in recognizing Sept. 30 as a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an opportunity to reflect on the tragic legacy of the residential school system and honour the children who never returned home, as well as the survivors, their families, and communities,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “One of council’s priorities is strengthening community participation through equity, diversity, inclusion, and truth and reconciliation. We are committed to fostering understanding by recognizing the importance of this day and encouraging everyone to wear orange and participate in community events as we strive to bring awareness to the legacy of residential schools in Canada.”
Flags will be lowered to half-mast on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, and will remain lowered until Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. The city will also illuminate the Orillia Waterfront Centre orange.
A number of local initiatives and actions are set to take place to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, including the following:
Orillia Public Library StoryWalk
The Orillia Public Library will be highlighting The Orange Shirt Story as a StoryWalk in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Visit the Orillia Public Library for a StoryWalk through the library courtyard and read the pages of The Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad. The StoryWalk will be available from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1, 2024. Visit the library website for more information.
Community Walk and Gathering
On Monday, Sept. 30, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., there will be a Community Walk and Gathering in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, starting at the Orillia Opera House/Orillia Public Library municipal lot and ending at the Terry Fox Circle with a gathering. The event is hosted by the Biminaawzogin Regional Aboriginal Women’s Circle, the Orillia Native Women’s Group, and the Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle, and sponsored by the City of Orillia and the Orillia Public Library.
For more information, local resources, and a list of upcoming events, click here.
City facility and service impacts
The City of Orillia recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday. In observance of this day, the following city facilities will be closed and services will not be available on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024:
- Orillia City Centre (50 Andrew St. S.). Please note while municipal services will not be available, Agilec, located at 50 Andrew St. S., will be operating with regular business hours.
- Municipal Operations Centre (20 James St. W.)
- Waste Diversion Site (100 Kitchener St.)
- Wastewater Treatment Centre (40 Kitchener St.)
- Water Filtration Plant (200 Bay St.)
- Orillia Recreation Centre (255 West St. S.)
- Barnfield Point Recreation Centre (500 Atherley Rd.)
- Rotary Place (100 University Ave.)
- Leacock Museum (50 Museum Dr.)
- Orillia Opera House (20 Mississaga St. W.)
- Orillia Public Library (36 Mississaga St. W.)
Orillia Transit/OWLS will operate as regularly scheduled.
There will be no garbage, recycling, green bin or yard waste collection on Monday, Sept. 30. Collection will be delayed by one day. Items must be at the curb by 7 a.m. to ensure collection. The regular collection schedule will resume on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.
Proclaimed in 2021 by the Government of Canada, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation recognizes those directly and indirectly impacted by the residential school system, including the children who never returned home, survivors, their families, and their communities, and coincides with Orange Shirt Day. It is meant as a time of reflection on the tragic and ongoing legacy of the residential school system and how we all can support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action. For more information on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the commission’s 94 calls to action, visit the Government of Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation web page or ontario.ca/LearntheLegacy.
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