The City of Edmonton declared Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a civic holiday in the city last week.

The March 14 declaration is part of the City’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Municipal Response Plan, which outlines actions that City Administration will take to remove barriers and enhance inclusion and access to city programs and services. It also supports the TRC Calls to Action.

The city has made progress on addressing 21 of the 94 Calls to Action, and this declaration specifically supports Call to Action #80, which is for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to eventually become a statutory holiday.

“I’m proud to formally recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. I encourage Edmontonians to reflect on the collective traditions and cultures of the diverse First Peoples whose footsteps have marked this territory. In order to truly honor those contributions, we also have to acknowledge the trauma of residential schools and the ongoing effects of colonization—not just on September 30 but throughout the year,” said Amarjeet Sohi, the Mayor of Edmonton.

Andre Corbould, city manager, said that the city was taking "a small but significant step" towards relationship building with the announcement.

“Officially acknowledging September 30 as a civic holiday is a small but significant step in our commitment to supporting and building strong, respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples in Edmonton," Corbould said. "Administration will continue listening, connecting, advocating, and partnering with Indigenous communities to ensure they see themselves included and reflected in the city’s spaces, places, and services. We still have a lot of work to do, and we’re dedicated to continually moving forward on our journey of reconciliation.”

​​Listen to the full CFWE audio below: