Dear Parents/Guardians:

As you are aware, September 30th has been declared as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  It is an important day of recognition created in response to the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.  The Government of BC has declared this day as a provincial holiday, and as such, all Saanich schools will be closed.  It is an opportunity for all of us to take time to visibly acknowledge the legacy of residential schools in Canada – to honour the survivors and those who never returned home from these schools.

We will be visibly supporting this learning journey in our schools and district office on Sept 29th by wearing orange on Orange Shirt Day.  Schools will be conducting other activities as well that help to support greater understanding of Canada’s tragic and shameful residential school history.

September 30th may look different for many in our community – perhaps it will be a quiet day of reflection, the participation in a community event or a time to educate ourselves further about the history of residential schools and colonial impacts.  However you choose to remember, we encourage everyone to be active in their learning as we all continue on the path towards truth and reconciliation.

The school district’s Indigenous Education department has identified some resources that you may find insightful:

• Residential School History
• Origins and History of Orange Shirt Day
• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
• Residential School memorial map

HÍSW̱ḴE

Dave Eberwein, Superintendent of Schools           Tim Dunford, Chair of the Board