The OPP Association Head Office will be closed September 30, 2024, to mark National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. In 2021, NDTR became a holiday for OPP Association members, and will continue to be in years to come, to reflect on the legacy and ongoing impacts of Residential Schools in a spirit of truth and reconciliation.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, we wish to acknowledge the harm caused by the residential school system in Canada and commit to honouring the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities.  We believe that the commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

We will be flying the “Every Child Matters” flag to recognize “Orange Shirt Day”, now rightfully know as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

We encourage members to wear an orange shirt on National Truth and Reconciliation Day. Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who did not. The history of this day relates to the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, who arrived on her first day of school dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom, and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

We encourage everyone to review the progress made since the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, specifically the “Delivering on Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action”, one of which was designating September 30th as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. On Monday, and every day, please consider any actions that we can take to move forward in unity together.