As the Zoom images came onscreen for Northumberland County council's September meeting, it could be seen that many of the councillors were wearing orange – including Warden Bob Crate, whose chain of office was draped over an orange T-shirt.
Crate opened the meeting by explaining why.
“Earlier this year the Federal government announced Sept. 30, 2021, as National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. This day builds on the Orange Shirt movement to commemorate residential-school survivors and their families and advance the process of reconciliation,” Crate said.
It was all a lead-in to a motion later in the meeting to recognize Sept. 30.
“We respectfully honour that day for commemoration,” Crate said, before reading the Territorial Land Acknowledgment that, for several years now, has been part of opening every county council meeting.
The motion brought to council refers to the Federal government's establishing the Sept. 30 commemoration and gives the background for Orange Shirt Day. It grew from the story of residential-school survivor Phyllis Webstad, who had her new orange shirt taken away on her first day at the school.
With this in mind, the motion declared the county's recognition of Sept. 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or Orange Shirt Day.