The Town of Kingsville is hosting a series of events to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Saturday, September 30, 2023.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation commemorates the survivors and victims of residential schools, their families and communities. The first observance of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was held on September 30, 2021, following the identification of unmarked burials at former Indian Residential School sites.

Recognizing this day was one of the first steps in a long journey towards understanding and meaningful reconciliation. Kingsville encourages you to help spread a wave of orange across our Town in solidarity of this journey. To recognize the event, wear an orange shirt, tie orange ribbons around your trees, and light your home with orange lights.

On Friday, September 29, the Town of Kingsville will be hosting a walk on Main St. in honour of Orange Shirt Day. The walk will start at Carnegie Arts and Visitors Centre and invite everyone to come and join us for the start time of 12:00 pm.

On Saturday, September 30, the Arts Society of Kingsville with the Town of Kingsville will be hosting activities at Carnegie Arts & Visitor Centre. This will include a drumming circle, smudging ceremony, native music, and arts and crafts. This event will run from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm.

On Sunday, October 1, we celebrate Indigenous talents at the Grovedale Arts and Culture Centre with a concert by Brothers Wilde. Local author G.A. Grisenthwaite will read from his latest novel, Tales Around the Bonfire as a part of the Indigenous tradition of oral storytelling. The event begins at 1:30 pm.

All these events are completely free to attend!

To learn more about how the Town of Kingsville recognizes and honours the importance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, please read our Land Acknowledgement and Reconciliation.