Ottawa Marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Parliament Hill Ottawa marked the sixth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with flag ceremonies and commemorative events on Parliament Hill honouring residential school survivors. Dignitaries, residential school survivors and community members gathered in Ottawa on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, to mark the sixth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Events centred on Parliament Hill and included the re-raising of the Survivor's Flag ceremony and Remembering the Children, a commemorative event honouring Indigenous children who never returned home from residential schools. Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour attended both ceremonies and placed a pair of shoes in honour of the children during Remembering the Children. Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Rebecca Alty also took part in the day's events.Diana Fox Carney, wife of Prime Minister Mark Carney, attended the re-raising ceremony wearing a ribbon skirt. She stood with Stephanie Scott, executive director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and residential school survivor Jacquie Bouvier.Survivors Raise the Survivor's FlagThe Survivor's Flag was raised on Parliament Hill by residential school survivors Eugene Arcand, Bernard Andreason, Antoine Mountain and Jeanette Wawatie. Arbour and Alty joined the survivors for the re-raising ceremony.During the ceremony, Metis National Council President Victoria Pruden gave Fox Carney a beaded Orange Shirt Day pin that Pruden had been wearing, in thanks for her presence at the event. Pruden was also seen wiping her eye as she listened to remarks from Metis residential school survivor Ann Lafleur.Arbour shook hands with Lafleur after Lafleur shared her story during the re-raising ceremony. Elder Claudette Commanda embraced Eugene Arcand after his remarks at the flag ceremony.Arbour, Keith Chiefmoon, Alty, Arcand and Commanda sat together during the re-raising of the Survivor's Flag on Parliament Hill.Remembering the Children Event on Parliament HillRemembering the Children, a commemorative event for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, was held on Parliament Hill. The Memorial Cloth, which bears the names of thousands of children who died due to residential schools, was carried during the event.As part of the commemoration, people placed shoes to honour Indigenous children who never returned home from residential schools. One person was seen kissing a pair of moccasins during the tribute. Arbour also placed a pair of shoes during the event.Tia Wood performed during Remembering the Children. Arbour spoke during the event and later participated in a round dance at its conclusion.Sixth Annual Day Observed Across CanadaThe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is observed annually on Sept. 30. The 2026 commemoration marked the sixth annual edition of the day, which honours residential school survivors and the children who did not return home.The day brings together survivors, Indigenous leaders, government officials and members of the public for ceremonies, commemorations and reflections on the legacy of residential schools.The events in Ottawa took place on Parliament Hill, with survivors participating directly in the raising of the Survivor's Flag. The Memorial Cloth carried during the commemoration displayed the names of thousands of children who died due to residential schools.