September 29 to October 1, 2025
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by taking part in various events that foster dialogue and deepen understanding of the history and enduring impacts of the residential school system.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the children who never returned home, the Survivors who carry the weight of their experience with resilience, and the families and communities forever affected by the residential school system.
This year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation carries special meaning because it marks 10 years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its Final Report. It is a moment to reflect on what has been accomplished since then and to acknowledge the important work that still lies ahead.
September 29, 2025
The Governor General hosted residential school Survivors, health support workers, representatives from the Survivors’ Circle and Governing Circle of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and others, to reflect upon the 10 years since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Report and look toward the next decade. The gathering began with brief remarks by the Governor General and included the presentation of sculptures that will form part of the permanent heart garden at Rideau Hall. These sculptures, created by First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists, commemorate the stories of Survivors through art.
To the Survivors especially: your presence today is both graceful and impactful. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. Please continue extending your hands to Canadians from all walks of life. It will help us walk the path of reconciliation together—with hope in our hearts and for the generations to come.
September 30, 2025
The Governor General joined residential school Survivors, Indigenous leaders and dignitaries at the national commemorative gathering on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour the thousands of lives lost or traumatically impacted by the residential school system. The gathering was hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), in partnership with APTN, CBC/Radio‑Canada, and the Algonquin Nation. The Governor General delivered remarks.
We cannot change the past. But we must remember it—so that its atrocities are never repeated. And while the present is ours to shape, we can also build a better future.
October 1, 2025
The Governor General delivered remarks at a national ceremony to honour residential school Survivors. The Survivors’ Flag, designed in consultation with Survivors from across Canada, reflects First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultural traditions and serves as a powerful symbol of remembrance.
Today, as we raise this flag, we remember the Indigenous children who were sent to residential schools and never came home.
