National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Workplace Rules

In Canada, there is a day to honour Survivors of residential schools and the children who never returned home, which is called National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day serves as a reminder for us that remembrance, education, and reflection are essential steps toward meaningful change.

Whether you attend a gathering, wear orange, or spend time learning, each step helps support a path toward reconciliation. At the same time, many people remain unsure how this day differs from Orange Shirt Day or who is eligible for paid time off on this commemoration. Find out more below.

What is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada?

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (or Truth and Reconciliation Day) is a federal statutory holiday in Canada that falls on September 30 each year. It honours the Survivors of the residential school system, their families, and communities.

The federal government established the holiday as a direct response to Call to Action #80 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and officially created it through Bill C-5 (Royal Assent on June 3, 2021).

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation shares its date with Orange Shirt Day. However, the two observances have distinct origins and purposes that complement each other. Find out what sets them apart in the next section.

Source: An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation)

Truth and Reconciliation Day vs. Orange Shirt Day

Started in 2013, Orange Shirt Day is a grassroots movement that honours children from residential schools by wearing orange shirts and carrying the message “Every Child Matters.” It is not a federal statutory holiday in Canada, while Truth and Reconciliation Day is.

To classify them clearly, the table below shows how the Truth and Reconciliation Day differs from Orange Shirt Day:

In Manitoba, the Orange Shirt Day name still exists and is the official holiday name. From that point, we can see that although the federal government established the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021, the essence of Orange Shirt Day is important for how Canadians celebrate September 30.

When is the Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada?

Here are the dates and days of the week for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation from 2025 to 2030:

Source: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – timeanddate.com

Is Truth and Reconciliation Day a Statutory Holiday?

Truth and Reconciliation Day is a paid statutory holiday for federal employees and workers in federally regulated industries. Outside the federal system, whether it is a statutory holiday depends on the rules of each province or territory.

The table below will show the current status of the Truth and Reconciliation Day by provinces and territories:

Source: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – is it a paid holiday? – cfib-fcei.ca

So, who gets National Day for Truth and Reconciliation off?

• Federal employees and federally regulated workers across Canada
• Employees in British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut
• In all other remaining provinces, it depends on employer policy or collective agreements to decide whether to give employees the day off or not.

Employer Responsibilities for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Depending on where you live, employers have specific responsibilities when observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

If Truth and Reconciliation Day is a Statutory Holiday

If the holiday is statutory in your jurisdiction (in BC, MB, PEI, NT, NU, YT), employers must do 4 main things below:

• Holiday pay calculations: In most jurisdictions, employers need to pay employees an average day’s wages for holidays based on their recent earnings (e.g., the previous 4 weeks or 30 days). However, the exact calculation can vary by province or territory, so employers should verify their local employment standards.
• Premium pay for work: If employees work on September 30, they must receive overtime pay of at least time-and-a-half. Some provinces require double-time or an extra day off.
• Advance notice requirements: Employers are expected to post schedules confirming statutory holiday status in advance. The document notice should show who is working, premium pay, and any agreements made with employees.
• Record-keeping compliance: Maintain payroll records that show holiday pay and premium pay calculations, and any agreements where employees chose to work.

Here are the workplace rules for Truth and Reconciliation Day in the provinces and territories where it is a legal holiday:

A Note on Unionized Workplaces:

For employers with unionized employees, the rules about statutory holidays are usually outlined in a collective bargaining agreement. However, these agreements must still follow or exceed the minimum legal requirements. 

In British Columbia, for example, a change in the Employment Standards Act mandates that all unionized employers must provide the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a paid holiday, even if their agreements already offer enough statutory holidays. Employers should review their agreements in light of the relevant employment laws.

If Truth and Reconciliation Day is a Non-Statutory Holiday

If the day is not statutory in the province or territory (in ON, QC, SK, NL, NS, NB, AB), employers are NOT required to provide a day off or statutory pay. However, they can choose from 4 approaches to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

• Full paid holiday: Give all employees the day off with pay. This shows leadership and can help attract new employees.
• Voluntary time off: Allow unpaid time off or flexible scheduling for employees who want to attend events or take personal time.
• Floating holiday option: Employees can use a personal day or cultural leave day to take September 30th off.
• Educational programming: The company can host workshops or guest speakers during work hours to educate staff.

With suitable policies, employers can attract new employees, especially younger people who care about social issues. It also shows support for Indigenous staff on what can be an emotional day for them.

Compliance note: Make sure to follow federal standards for federally regulated positions. For other roles, use the employment standards of the province or territory where the employee works or lives, if the employee is remote. Document your policies and adjust payroll to accommodate different rules and rates for each area.

Workplace Support Resources on the Truth and Reconciliation Day

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation can bring up tough feelings for residential school survivors, their families, and Indigenous employees. Employers should let staff know about available resources, including culturally appropriate counselling for Indigenous employees. 

Here are 4 critical support services that operate 24/7:

National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 provides immediate emotional support and crisis intervention specifically for residential school survivors and intergenerational trauma.

Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310 offers culturally appropriate counselling in English, French, Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut for all Indigenous peoples experiencing distress.

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 supports youth processing difficult emotions or seeking information about residential schools and their impacts.

Employee Assistance Programs: Verify your workplace EAP includes Indigenous-specific counselling options and communicate availability prominently before September 30.

Beyond that, employers should also train managers to respond thoughtfully to employees who might be struggling. They should offer flexibility for Indigenous employees who may require modified duties or time off.

At the same time, non-Indigenous staff should learn to participate in a way that respects and centers Indigenous experiences. Consider sharing resources from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, such as events or reports, to encourage meaningful participation and demonstrate a real commitment to reconciliation.

How Should You Participate in the Truth and Reconciliation Day?

To truly honour this day, your actions should go beyond just symbols. The goal is to support Indigenous communities and help address ongoing challenges. This means it is better to attend an event organized by an Indigenous group than to create your own.

When buying an orange shirt, purchase from an Indigenous artist or business instead of a mass retailer. If you donate, give directly to Indigenous organizations that help Survivors or work to preserve culture and language, rather than to general charities.

Across Canada, 4 Communities host public National Day for Truth & Reconciliation events welcoming respectful participation:

• APTN airs a national ceremony from Parliament Hill at 3 p.m. ET, featuring survivors, artists, and stories.
• You can search the hashtag #NDTR on social media to find local events. Indigenous friendship centres often organize walks, vigils, and educational activities.
• The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation offers online programs, including survivor stories and learning tools.
• Many communities hold public ceremonies, like lowering flags to half-mast or lighting a sacred fire. If you attend, be a quiet and respectful observer and follow the guidance of the organizers.

For non-Indigenous Canadians, this day is a time to listen to Indigenous voices, learn the difficult history of residential schools and their lasting impact, and think about your own role in reconciliation.

History of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was created from grassroots efforts by Indigenous groups to recognize the history and effects of residential schools. It connects with Orange Shirt Day, which began in 2013.

Orange Shirt Day commemorates the experience of Phyllis Webstad, who had her new orange shirt taken away on her first day at residential school in 1973. This historic event symbolizes the loss of Indigenous identity. It was created by a community initiative led by Indigenous people to raise awareness about the effects of residential schools by encouraging people to wear orange shirts. 

Between 2008 and 2015, the TRC collected stories from over 6,500 survivors, documented the harm caused by these schools, and published 94 Calls to Action. In response to Call to Action #80, Bill C-5 was introduced to create a holiday. The discovery of unmarked graves at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in May 2021 led to public outcry, which helped push the legislation forward.

In June 2021, Parliament established the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a federal statutory holiday. September 30 was chosen to coincide with Orange Shirt Day. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation has broader goals for reconciliation, including legal recognition and changes in workplace policies based on TRC recommendations.

Source: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – gov.bc.ca

Understanding the Truth and Reconciliation Day matters is just one part of managing statutory holiday policies in Canadian workplaces. Discover how to handle all statutory holidays here:

• New Year
• Good Friday
• Easter Monday
• Victoria Day
• Canada Day
• Civic Holiday
• Thanksgiving Day
• Remembrance Day
• Boxing Day

The bottom line

Across the country, people mark September 30 by gathering, learning, and reflecting. You can join national events, local ceremonies, or take time to read and listen. Show your support respectfully, and continue these efforts even after the day is over to help create change.

FAQs about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation