The Canadian government has recently announced its plans to create a new statutory holiday.
The new holiday will be honouring the painful residential-school legacy, also known as a time of cultural genocide in Canada.
According to The Globe and Mail, the day is expected to be called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“The overall picture is that it is important to have that day set aside so Canadians continually get it and will never ever forget the impact of genocide in the residential schools on Indigenous peoples,” Perry Bellegarde, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), said in an interview with The Globe and Mail.
While the official date is yet to be confirmed, the government is choosing between two options: June 21 falling on the National Indigenous Peoples Day), and September 30, which is also known as Orange Shirt Day.
Currently, there are five national statutory holidays: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day.
Sources: The Globe and Mail, CTV News.
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