Dear Students, Staff, Families, and Community Members,

On September 30, we join people across Canada in observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. As tomorrow is a day with no school to commemorate this day, many of our schools took part in activities to observe this important event over the past few days.

This day invites us to pause and reflect on the history and ongoing legacy of the residential school system, to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and to remember the children who never returned home. It is also a day to reaffirm our shared commitment to learning the truth and advancing reconciliation. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to action and serves as an opportunity for education, remembrance, and reflection.

In School District No. 19, reconciliation is not simply an event marked on one day of the year. It is a responsibility that guides our work and our relationships every day. We recognize that we live, learn, and work on the traditional territories of the Indigenous peoples of this area, whose stewardship, knowledge, languages, and cultures have shaped this region since time immemorial. Our district remains committed to learning from Indigenous voices and perspectives, honouring Indigenous histories, and creating learning environments where Indigenous students, families, and communities are welcomed, valued, and respected.

As educators, students, families, and community members, we each have a role to play in reconciliation. Meaningful reconciliation requires more than acknowledgement. It asks us to listen, learn, challenge our assumptions, and take action in ways that foster understanding, respect, and equity.

I encourage all members of our school community to take time to reflect, learn, and participate in ways that are meaningful to you. Whether that means attending a local event, engaging with Indigenous stories and teachings, spending time in conversation with family and friends, or simply taking a moment to honour those affected by residential schools, every act of learning and remembrance matters.

For more information and ideas you can visit the Government of Canada website – https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html. You can also review the 94 Calls to Action on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission website – https://nctr.ca/about/truth-and-reconciliation-commission-of-canada-calls-to-action/.

The path toward reconciliation is ongoing. While we recognize that there is much work ahead, we are grateful for the opportunity to walk this journey together with humility, respect, and hope.

On behalf of the Board of Education and School District No. 19, thank you for your commitment to creating a more understanding, inclusive, and equitable future for all.

Every Child Matters.

Sincerely,

Glenn Goslin,
Superintendent
SD19 (Revelstoke)