National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 3
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025
As Canadians gather to recognize the significance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), it is essential to remember that the detailed truths at the heart of the occasion are preserved and housed right here at the heart of the continent, where it will also soon create a permanent home. DEDICATED TO HONOURING RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVORS, FAMILIES NATIONAL CENTRE FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION:
E stablished in 2008, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) embarked on a monumental journey to document the history of the residential school system and its impact on Indigenous peoples. The Commission’s final report was released in 2015, including 94 Calls to Action, aimed at charting a course toward reconciliation and healing. The great volume of records, documents and Survivor truths that resulted from the Commission’s work is now housed at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) at the University of Manitoba. A
fundraising campaign is currently underway to create a permanent home for NCTR at the Fort Garry Campus. “The NCTR is a place of truth, where Survivors’ voices will live forever. Our mission is to honour Survivors and their families by safeguarding their statements, advancing education, and fostering truth and reconciliation,” says NCTR executive director, Stephanie Scott, the daughter of a residential school Survivor and a Sixties Scoop Survivor. “The centre promotes public understanding of how residential schools were part of a broader history of violent attempts to erase Indigenous cultures and
identities, and it works to ensure that this history is acknowledged, learned and carried forward.” Over the past 10 years, the NCTR has grown to become a vital hub for truth, memory, and reconciliation. The centre currently cares for more than four million records, including thousands of Survivor statements. Scott says the centre prioritizes accessibility, with more than 218,000 pages provided directly to Survivors and more than 80,000 records released for public use. It has played an important role in identifying thousands of missing and disappeared children. It also continues to develop and deliver significant programs and events to ensure the truths of Survivors are acknowledged and understood by present and future generations. “This year, the NCTR will, once again, host Truth and Reconciliation Week, a national educational program for schools, as well as the Remembering the Children gathering, which will be broadcast live to Canadians from coast to coast to
coast,” says Scott. “September 30 is not just a day of remembrance – it is a day of learning and action. We work with many partners, including the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation, to bring the truths to light.” NCTR’s essential work will continue for many years to come as plans continue to take shape for the design and construction of its new permanent home. “Our new home will provide a larger, purpose-built space to house the archives, welcome Survivors and their families, and serve as an international learning and research centre,” says Scott. “This building will honour the Survivors who entrusted us with their truths and provide a place for Canadians to learn, reflect and act.
Our new building will also serve as an international model for other countries who are doing their work for truth and reconciliation.” 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s conclusion, a milestone that continues to inspire and strengthen the resolve of Scott and the NCTR board and staff. “Ten years on, our commitment to Survivors is stronger than ever,” says Scott. “As we reflect on the past decade, the NCTR is also looking forward – building a new home, expanding our reach, and tackling denialism head-on. We remain steadfast in our responsibility to Survivors and to Canada: to preserve the truth, challenge misinformation, and educate generations to come.” ▲
“In just 10 years, we’ve grown considerably as a national centre and we continue to move forward with our critical mission.”
– STEPHANIE SCOTT, NCTR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NCTR SURVIVOR CIRCLE
SUPPLIED PHOTOS
WCB honours National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
We remember the children who never returned home, and acknowledge the trauma of the survivors, their families and their communities. We must all work together in creating a better way forward.
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