Tuesday, September 27, 2022 (Wetaskiwin, Alberta) — As part of its ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, the City of Wetaskiwin will be closing most of its facilities — except for the Recycling Centre, and the Manluk Centre: Wetaskiwin Regional Aquatics and Fitness — on Friday, September 30 in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The City has partnered with the Wetaskiwin District Heritage Museum Centre & Star Store, Immanuel Anglican Wetaskiwin, and Wetaskiwin FCSS in this year’s Orange Shirt Day walk. Starting from the Heritage Museum Centre (5007 50 Avenue) at 4 p.m. on September 30, participants will walk to the Peace Cairn (5003 56 Street) where a ceremony of remembrance will take place, ending with activities at Diamond Jubilee Park (located along 50 Avenue between 54 and 55 Street).
“Organizationally, the City views the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a solemn occasion which requires — and deserves — time to learn about and reflect upon the tragic and lasting impacts of the residential school system,” stated City Manager Sue Howard. “The City is encouraging all its employees to attend a learning session, Orange Shirt Day walk, or other reflective and/or educational activities on September 30.”
The Manluk Centre will be open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday, September 30. The Recycling Centre is open for use 24/7. A double collection of residential waste will also occur on Monday, October 3 for both the Friday and Monday routes.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was created in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC’s) Call to Action #80 which recommended a statutory holiday to “honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, which began in 2013 in Williams Lake, B.C., to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation.
Find out more at www.wetaskiwin.ca/truthandreconciliation.