Markham City Hall hosts first in-person event to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Every Child Matters flag hoisted at Markham Civic Centre

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 3, 2022
Irene Wong

On September 30, the Every Child Matters flag was raised at Markham Civic Centre in recognition of the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

Mayor Frank Scarpitti, city councillors, delegates of three levels of government and city staff, including a big group of firefighters, attended the ceremony.

Senior Fellow Robert (Bob) Watts, the former interim executive director of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, held a moment of silence in the ceremony.

He addressed the role government entities play in reconciliations changes and the concern of holding symbolic events on Truth and Reconciliation Day. “It is important that we are here to raise the flag to celebrate the relationship. We also need to have standard changes. And we see standard changes in Markham. And the whole nation will see it.”

Last year, Markham marked the first Day for Truth and Reconciliation with online events during the pandemic. Residents are encouraged to wear an orange shirt to recognize the harm caused by residential schools and to express commitment to uphold the value and worth of all people.

Orange Shirt Day began in Williams Lake, B.C. in 2013 and was inspired by the story of residential school survivor, Phyllis Webstad, who wanted to pass along the message that every day, every child matters.

In 1973, six-year-old Phyllis was given an orange shirt by her grandmother for her first day of school. On her first day at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School, her clothes -- including her beloved orange shirt -- were taken away and never returned.