UCalgary commemorates National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with flag ceremony, keynote and film screening

The University of Calgary hosted meaningful and educational events to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, on Sept. 30. 

The day honours the children who never returned home from residential schools, as well as the survivors, their families and their communities.

For several years, UCalgary's Office of Indigenous Engagement and Calgary Public Library (CPL) have worked together to create meaningful learning opportunities in commemoration of Sept. 30. 

The collaboration reflects ii’ taa’poh’to’p, UCalgary’s Indigenous Strategy, and its commitment to engage the campus community and beyond by offering learning opportunities that raise awareness, start conversations and encourage reflection on reconciliation.

Sept. 29: CPL and UCalgary co-hosted a screening of Siksikakowan: The Blackfoot Man, directed by Trevor Solway, at the Central Library. 

Sept. 30: UCalgary held a flag-lowering ceremony outside of the Rosza Centre, in which the Alberta, Canada and UCalgary flags were lowered and the Every Child Matters flag was raised. Later that day, CPL and UCalgary co-hosted a special keynote at the Rosza Centre where Angela Sterritt, an award-winning investigative journalist, bestselling author and broadcaster, spoke about reconciliation and of her experience as an Indigenous women. Sterritt also spoke on her memoir Unbroken, which built on her experience as an Indigenous woman, while focusing on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Mackimmie Tower was also lit up orange for the week along with the University of Calgarys official Social media account and Website changing their logos to orange.