Office of the Chief Executive

Honouring National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30

Tomorrow is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as well as Orange Shirt Day – both are important observances to recognize the traumatic experiences and losses that Indigenous Peoples have endured, including through the residential school program.

The day honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. The orange shirt is an Indigenous-led grassroots symbol that is meant to raise awareness of the individual, family and community impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept that Every Child Matters.

Although September 30 is not a statutory holiday in Ontario, the TTC will still recognize the day through various initiatives across the organization.

The TTC will begin the day with a Sunrise Ceremony at the Hillcrest Complex at 7 a.m. All employees will be given an orange shirt pin along with a postcard explaining the significance of September 30. We are encouraging employees to wear the orange shirt pin on September 30. Employees will also be allowed to wear an orange shirt over their uniforms on September 30 to recognize the day.

Tomorrow, orange flags will also be installed on buses, and decals on streetcars and Wheel-Trans vehicles. We will also be acknowledging the day on all TTC station platform screens.

I encourage you to take some time to reflect and learn about Truth and Reconciliation, as well as the history of Indigenous Peoples and residential schools. We will also be providing some resources in this week’s edition of MyTTC | Weekly in case you are interested in learning more.

There is still a lot of work ahead of us. Our commitment for a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization cannot end with a single act or day. At the TTC, our 10-Point Action Plan for Diversity and Inclusion is our collective path forward.

We can all do our part to educate ourselves, stand up against anti-Indigenous racism and make progress towards inclusion for all.

Stay safe.

Richard J. Leary
Chief Executive Officer
September 29, 2022