National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada: Is it Paid or Unpaid?

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 reminds us that commemoration and learning are part of real change.

Whether you attend a gathering, wear orange, or spend time learning, each step helps support a path toward reconciliation. Find out more about how this day is recognized across different provinces and territories in the article below.

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

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a federal statutory holiday in Canada that happens annually on September 30. It honours the Indigenous children who were taken from their families and forced to attend residential schools between 1867 and 1996. This day responds directly to Call to Action #80 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

September 30 is also known as Orange Shirt Day. This movement started before the official holiday and uses the orange shirt symbol to represent the loss of Indigenous identity in residential schools. It holds special meaning for survivors and their descendants who continue experiencing impacts through language loss, family separation, and cultural disconnection.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Dates (2025 – 2030)

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

Is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a Paid Holiday?

It depends. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a paid statutory holiday for federal employees and workers in federally regulated industries. Outside the federal system, each province and territory decides whether this day is a statutory holiday for workers in their jurisdiction.

The table below will show the current status of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation across Canada:

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? Only BC, MB, PEI, Yukon, NWT, NU, and the federal government provide paid time off for this holiday. Newfoundland and Labrador observes the day, but only government workers get the day off. In all other remaining provinces, it’s up to employers to decide whether to give employees the day off or not.

Employer Responsibilities for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Federal employers and regulated businesses, including banks, telecommunications, transportation, and Indigenous governments, must provide statutory holiday benefits. At the same time, provincial employers follow whatever rules their province or territory has set.

NDTR Rules in Statutory Status Provinces

If the holiday is statutory in your jurisdiction, employers must do 4 main things below:

• Holiday pay calculations: Provide regular wages for the day off based on average daily earnings from the previous four weeks.
• 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 must post schedules confirming statutory holiday status at least two weeks prior. 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.

NDTR Rules in Non-Statutory Status Provinces

If the day is not statutory in the province or territory, employers 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.

How Should You Participate in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?

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

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, documenting the harm caused by these schools. The discovery of unmarked graves at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in May 2021 spurred the government to establish the holiday.

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

Why does National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Matter?

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is important because it reminds us of the real inequalities Indigenous peoples still face in Canada.

According to Statistics Canada in 2023, Indigenous peoples experience poverty rates 7.6% higher than non-Indigenous Canadians. (17.5% for Indigenous peoples and 9.9% for non-Indigenous Canadians).

Moreover, educational gaps persist, with only 56% of Inuit and 59.9% of Registered Indians on reserve having high school credentials, compared to 90.7% of non-Indigenous Canadians. It is directly linked to residential school policies that devalued non-Indigenous knowledge systems and created intergenerational education trauma.

Another serious issue is in child welfare. Indigenous children make up 52% of children in foster care, even though they are only 5% of Canada’s child population.

That said, these numbers reflect real families still dealing with the impacts of colonial policies.

This is why September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, is more than a day of remembrance. It is a call to take action and work toward meaningful change and reconciliation.

Source: A Compendium Report to the Department’s 2023 Annual Report to Parliament

Understanding the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 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