Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation—a time to honour the survivors of residential schools, remember those who never returned home, and reflect on the ongoing impacts of this history on Indigenous communities across Canada. It is also Orange Shirt Day, which began as a grassroots initiative to acknowledge the lasting trauma of residential schools and affirm that Every Child Matters.
This day is not only one of remembrance but also a call to action. It asks each of us—particularly those in the legal profession—to examine our role in reconciliation and the responsibilities we hold in shaping a more just and equitable future.
The Canadian Bar Association is committed to advancing meaningful reconciliation in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Educational programs like The Path: Your Journey through Indigenous Canada help illuminate truths that have too often been overlooked or ignored. This year, to support this ongoing work, we are updating the CBA’s Truth and Reconciliation Toolkit for Law Firms. This resource update will provide legal professionals with current, practical resources that foster deeper understanding, respectful engagement, and lasting systemic change.
Reconciliation is not a one-time commitment—it’s a sustained journey that requires humility, learning, and accountability. There is still much to do. But on this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we renew our commitment to walking this path, with firm resolve to support truth, justice, and healing.
