Township of Muskoka Lakes Recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

MUSKOKA LAKES, ON, Sept. 24, 2025 – The Township of Muskoka Lakes (“Township”) joins communities across Canada in recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on Sept. 30, 2025.

To honour the Survivors of residential schools, the children who never returned home, as well as their families and communities, a flag of recognition has been raised at the Municipal Office (1 Bailey Street, Port Carling) and will remain in place throughout the week. Serving as a visible symbol of remembrance and reflection, the Township is committed to commemorating the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools as part of the reconciliation process. 

A community recognition ceremony will be held on Sept. 30 at the Municipal Office, where Mayor Peter Kelley will share remarks, and members of the community are invited to gather for a moment of reflection, discussion and a group photo. Attendees are encouraged to wear an orange shirt, symbolizing the loss of culture, freedom, and self-esteem that many Indigenous children experienced. This day reminds us that Every Child Matters.

Community Recognition Ceremony Details
Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. ET
Location: Township of Muskoka Lakes Municipal Office
(1 Bailey Street, Port Carling – off of Joseph Street)

The Township of Muskoka Lakes respectfully acknowledges we are on lands traditionally occupied by Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Peoples have cared for this territory for the benefit of future generations and their stewardship throughout the ages is recognized.

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About the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

There were 140 federally run residential schools in Canada that operated between 1867 and 1996. Survivors advocated for recognition and reparations and demanded accountability for the intergenerational impacts of harm caused. Their efforts culminated in:

• the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement
• apologies by the government
• the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• the creation of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission ran from 2008 to 2015 and provided those directly or indirectly affected by the legacy of the residential schools policy with an opportunity to share their stories and experiences. The Commission released its final report detailing 94 calls to action. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a direct response to Call to Action 80, which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has become the permanent archive for the statements, documents and other materials the Commission gathered. Its library and collections, as well as its National Student Memorial Register, are the foundation for ongoing learning and research.

For more information on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html

Why an orange shirt?

When Phyllis Webstad was a little girl, she was forced to attend a residential school in Williams Lake, British Columbia. On the first day of school, she proudly wore an orange shirt her grandmother had given her. The residential school staff stripped her of her belongings, cut her hair, and took away her clothes, including her orange shirt

When I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never wore it again. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t give it back to me, it was mine! The color orange has always reminded   and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared. – Phyllis Webstad

For more information on Orange Shirt Day, visit: https://orangeshirtday.org/

Community Learning Opportunities

Lunch and Learn Webinar Series

September 22 – 26, 2025
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation offers a free virtual educational program from September 22-26, 2025 providing the opportunity to engage with the history and enduring spirit of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. Programming is available in English, French and ASL. 

Register at: https://trw-svr.nctr.ca/lunch-and-learns/

Voices of Truth – Indigenous Speaker Series

September 25 – October 1, 2025
Hosted at the Muskoka Discovery Centre, this in-person series, Stories of Resilience, Identity, and Truth, features Indigenous storytellers, artists, and authors sharing personal stories of healing and reconnection.

Learn more here: https://realmuskoka.com/discovery-centre/mdc-programs/

For general or media inquires, please contact:
Mia Palantzas
Communications Advisor, Township of Muskoka Lakes
(705) 765-3156 x360
communications@muskokalakes.ca

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