September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a federal holiday observed in several jurisdictions (British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon). This day honours the survivors of Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who never returned home.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established on September 30, 2021, in response to Call to Action #80 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action:
“We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour survivors, their families, and communities, and to ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
Through our design work in the Northern and Western regions of Canada, we have been privileged to collaborate closely with Indigenous communities. This has allowed us to experience the richness of their cultures and traditions, as well as witness the challenges they continue to face. At Parkin, we are deeply committed to supporting and promoting reconciliation. We are actively working towards addressing Call to Action #92, which calls upon the corporate sector to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework. It emphasizes:
Meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining free, prior, and informed consent from Indigenous peoples before moving forward with economic development projects.
Ensuring equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities for Indigenous peoples, while ensuring long-term, sustainable benefits for their communities from these projects.
Providing education for management and staff on the history and legacy of Aboriginal peoples, including residential schools, Indigenous rights, Treaties, and cultural awareness.
As this year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation provides an opportunity for all of us to pause, reflect, and come together to honour the survivors, their families, and their communities. We encourage everyone to set aside time to consider the significance of this day and commit to learning more about the journey toward reconciliation.
Parkin has created a shared space for our staff to learn and reflect, called The Circle of Knowledge. This space is dedicated to posting office-specific events related to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2025. We encourage staff to contribute their own insights. The Circle of Knowledge is a place for sharing lessons learned — from Indigenous heritage and reconciliation, as well as from our projects, professional experiences, and other meaningful moments. By contributing, we can learn from one another and strengthen our collective understanding.
We are fortunate to have access to a wealth of resources that can help guide our reflections and deepen our understanding. Below are a few resources we encourage everyone to explore to learn, understand, and honour the significance of September 30:
Government of Canada
RAIC: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
RAIC Part 1: History and Context
RAIC Part 2: Relationships with the Land Through Architecture and Design