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national day

The City of Port Colborne will recognize and observe September 30 as National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

As announced by parliament the beginning of August, September 30 is the newest statutory holiday aimed at recognizing and commemorating the legacy of residential schools. This date coincides with Orange Shirt Day, which began in 2013 and encourages people to wear orange shirts to honour Indigenous children forced to leave their families to attend residential schools. Federally regulated workplaces including banks, and post offices will be closed to respect this statutory holiday.

“National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is an opportunity to reflect and acknowledge a dark time in Canadian history,” said Mayor Bill Steele. “As announced by the federal government, the goal of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is to provide opportunities for individuals to participate in educational and commemorative activities. As a community, let us take this day to reflect and honour the survivors of residential schools.”

The City of Port Colborne will recognize September 30 as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and based on contractual obligations with various union partners, all employees will observe this as a statutory holiday. The following City operations will be in effect for September 30, 2021:

  • Municipal offices will be closed
    • If residents require the Operations Department due to a road or water emergency, they can call the after-hours dispatch at 905-835-5079.
    • The Port Colborne Public Library will be closed
    • The Historical and Marine Museum will be open, noon – 4 p.m.
    • Property tax payments must be received by City Hall on or before October 1. More information on property tax payment options can be found online.

The City of Port Colborne’s leadership team is in the process of reaching out to local Indigenous partners to see how we can work together to provide educational learning opportunities to all employees and the community. This day is meant for reflection, understanding this tragic history, and ensuring the ongoing legacy of residential schools is never forgotten.