Parliament Hill: Remembering the Children
The day's main event, "Remembering the Children," takes place on the West Block lawn starting at 12 p.m. and runs for 90 minutes. The broadcast program is organized jointly by APTN, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, CBC/Radio-Canada and the Algonquin Nation. It will highlight residential school survivors, their families and children lost to the system, with reflections from Elders and Survivors alongside performances by First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists.
That evening, the Peace Tower and the Senate Building will be illuminated in orange.
Ceremonies, tours and sacred fires
Beechwood Cemetery holds a ceremony at 2 p.m., with screenings of the CBC documentary "The Story of a National Crime" and a 45-minute reconciliation tour.
Reconciling History Walking Tours run hourly from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., each lasting 90 minutes and led by Indigenous tour guides. Most time slots are already sold out, so anyone hoping to join should check availability as early as possible.
At Rideau Hall, tours run at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. in English and at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in French, with a sacred fire burning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Seating is first come, first served.
Museums, university and library
The Canadian Museum of History is offering free admission from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a morning ceremony at 10 a.m. and a sacred fire from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Throughout the day, the museum will screen 10 Indigenous-made documentaries in both English and French.
Seven branches of the Ottawa Public Library will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the day, and Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica is holding a bilingual mass at 7 p.m.
Why it matters here
Ottawa's role as the seat of Parliament means the national ceremony happens right in the city's backyard, drawing survivors, families and visitors from across the country to the Hill. For residents, the day offers a chance to take part directly, whether that's joining a walking tour with an Indigenous guide, watching the sacred fire at Rideau Hall, or simply pausing to look up at the Peace Tower lit orange after dark.
Sources: Ottawa Citizen (via Yahoo News Canada syndication), National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
