Canadians are gathering for ceremonies and reflecting on the tragic legacy of residential schools — and honouring the children who never came home — as the country marks the fifth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Gov. Gen Mary Simon, the first Indigenous person to serve in that role, said the country is making "meaningful progress" on the path to reconciliation but cautioned that more work needs to be done.
"Our classrooms are beginning to embrace inclusive history, and more Indigenous children are learning their cultural practices and ancestral languages with pride," Simon told those gathered at a ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
"But much more work remains. Inequities persist, and we share a lifelong responsibility to address them. I have seen Indigenous people striving to heal while still struggling to meet basic needs. Too often they lack access to adequate trauma-informed mental health [and] support that honours their traditional healing practices."
Simon called on Canadians to mark the day by renewing their commitment to reconciliation.
WATCH | Canada making 'meaningful progress' toward reconciliation, says Gov. Gen Mary Simon: Canada making 'meaningful progress' toward reconciliation: Gov. Gen Mary Simon | Full speech Duration 8:23 Gov.
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