Scarborough Arts will be closed on September 30th in respect of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour the memory of children who died in residential schools, as well as survivors, their families, and communities. It also coincides with Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots day that honours survivors of Residential Schools, and remembers those that did not. 

While not observed as a statutory holiday on the Ontario provincial level, Scarborough Arts will be closed in respect of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 80 of a federal statutory day of commemoration. As a Local Arts Service Organization, we stand in solidarity with Indigenous people everywhere, and are working to continue to listen to Indigenous people, create arts programs that elevate Indigenous voices, and bring community arts and cultural services to Indigenous people and communities in Scarborough. 

So on Friday, September 30, let’s wear orange and show up in solidarity with Indigenous people affected by Residential Schools. Let’s continue on this path of reconciliation by listening to Indigenous voices everywhere, and raising awareness and denouncing the lack of adequate government response for the ongoing cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender non-conforming people; the soaring prices of groceries in Indigenous communities; and the lack of clean drinking water on reserve communities, among others.

We would also redirect you to our Land Acknowledgment page for additional resources related to this advocacy.