Canada Marks Fifth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Canadians are observing the fifth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with events across the country, honouring residential school survivors and the children who never returned home. Canadians across the country are marking the fifth consecutive National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, observed every September 30. Events are taking place nationwide, including in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Iqaluit. Residential School History and ReconciliationPrime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to speak at an event in Edmonton. An Every Child Matters flag has become a familiar symbol of the day, flown at gatherings across the country. Beginning in the 19th century, more than 150,000 Indigenous children in Canada were separated from their families and communities and sent to church-run residential schools. Between 1857 and 1996, 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend the church-run, government-funded institutions.Abuse, malnutrition and inadequate health care were rampant in the schools. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded in its landmark 2015 final report that the school system was a central element of a state-backed policy of cultural genocide. The establishment of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 was among the recommendations in the commission's report. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission initially documented the deaths of 3,200 children at residential schools.However, experts at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, who continue to comb through millions of records, say the actual number could be much higher. CBC/Radio-Canada, APTN and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation are hosting their annual Remembering the Children event on Parliament Hill. The 90-minute ceremony will feature speeches from residential school survivors, elders and Indigenous leaders. Performances by Tia Wood, Soleil Launière, Silla and Adrian Sutherland are also scheduled.Guests and participants are encouraged to bring a pair of children's shoes to place at the front of the stage to honour the children who attended residential schools. Stephanie Scott, the executive director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, said the day is about honouring every child taken by the system. On this day, we gather to honour every child taken by the residential school system and to stand in solidarity with those who survived it, she said.Leaders Urge Truth and ReconciliationAs denialist voices seek to distort the past, our collective responsibility to uphold the truth is more important than ever, Scott said. Honouring these children means facing our history with unwavering honesty and ensuring that Never Again is not just a phrase, but a binding commitment backed by meaningful action, she said. Canadian Heritage Minister Marc Miller said the day is an opportunity for non-Indigenous and Indigenous Peoples to come together and reflect on the legacy of residential schools.Reconciliation is a responsibility we all share, and by connecting with each other and our history, we can help build a future grounded in understanding, respect and hope, Miller said. Carney is banking on economic reconciliation, but critics say he is not on track. This report by The Canadian Press was first published September 30, 2026. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press.