Truth and Reconciliation Day 2026: marking it in Halifax

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was observed on Wednesday, September 30, honouring the children who died at residential schools and the survivors, families and communities affected by that system. In Halifax, the city’s programme began the day before: a flag-raising took place at noon on September 29 in Grand Parade, outside Halifax City Hall at 1841 Argyle Street. City Hall was also lit orange from September 29 to October 2. The orange display connects with the history of Orange Shirt Day, while the wider day asks people to learn about residential schools and consider the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.

Several events across the Halifax Regional Municipality offered different ways to spend the day. At the residential school memorial site in Shubenacadie, Sipekne'katik First Nation’s gathering began at 10 a.m., with remarks from community leaders, cultural teachings, a barbecue lunch and children’s activities including talking sticks, medicine bags and dream catchers. In Halifax, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 screened Indigenous-created short films from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; regular admission applied, while admission was free for Indigenous people on Wednesday. All Saints Anglican Cathedral hosted a programme with author Chris Benjamin, whose book Indian School Road examines the legacy of the Shubenacadie Residential School.

There were also exhibitions and activities around the city. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic presented Ta'n me'j Tel-keknuo'ltiek: How Unique We Still Are, about Mi'kmaw connections to the lands and waters of Mi'kma'ki, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Museum of Natural History’s Pjila'si exhibit, an interactive space celebrating Mi'kmaw culture, was open during the same hours. Halifax Public Libraries ran free cooking, beading, film and other activities from September 24 to 29, although library branches were closed on September 30. Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk / Halifax also scheduled a September 30 session from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by Treaty Day programming on October 1 at the Neighbourhood Shop on Gottingen Street. Treaty Day begins Mi'kmaq History Month in Nova Scotia; the 2026 theme was Healing and Wellness, with the listed theme also given as Nepisulti'k – We Are Healers.

For a quieter way to continue the learning, Halifax Regional Municipality resources suggest reading Isabelle Knockwood’s Out of the Depths, watching 215 Reflections, or choosing films such as We Were Children, Indian Horse, Little Bird and Gord Downie’s Secret Path. The Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, Peace and Friendship Park and local Indigenous cultural heritage sites are other places to learn about community history, culture and resilience. Peace and Friendship Park, formerly Cornwallis Park, reflects Halifax’s ongoing work around commemoration and reconciliation; the name was formally adopted in 2021 after the Edward Cornwallis statue was removed in 2018. Visitors can also support Indigenous artists, language learners, performers and small businesses, and have conversations about what reconciliation means in everyday life. Halifax Transit operated holiday service on September 30, with a moment of silence at 2:15 p.m.; city recreation facilities were closed, and on-street parking was free.