How to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Ottawa

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Visitors are also invited to visit the sacred fire at the Indigenous Medicine Garden from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., honouring the children who attended residential schools.

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The museum will also host a live broadcast of the “Remembering the Children” commemorative gathering on Parliament Hill, which starts at 12 p.m.

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Rideau Hall

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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation tours will be offered at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. in English, and at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in French. Places will be allocated on a first come, first-served basis at the black gazebo by the front of the residence.

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Rideau Hall will also host a sacred fire for the community from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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An opening ceremony will last roughly 45 minutes, then the fire will be tended to throughout the morning to encourage reflection.

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Ottawa Public Library

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Seven branches will be open on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to provide a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation learning and action space.

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Those branches include Beaverbrook, Cumberland, Greenboro, Main, Nepean Centrepointe, Ruth E. Dickinson and St-Laurent.

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All other Ottawa Public Library branches will be closed Wednesday.

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Digital Arts Resource Centre

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Four Indigenous-created films will be screened at the Digital Artist Resources Centre for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

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They will play in the DARC Microcinema at 67 Nicholas St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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University of Ottawa

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A ceremony will take place to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the University Square at 9:30 a.m.

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Following the ceremony, a community feast will take place in the Faculty of Social Sciences building.

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The university’s Faculty of Medicine, in partnership with the Ottawa Hospital and CHEO, will also host a gathering in Roger Guindon Hall at 12 p.m., where participants can meet Indigenous vendors and purchase orange shirts.

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The Diefenbunker

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The museum curator will take visitors on a tour through the Diefenbunker, including stops at two exhibitions that highlight Indigenous perspectives from the Cold War.

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The hour-long tours run at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The tour is free with general admission, but tickets must be reserved in advance.

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Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica

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A bilingual mass will be hosted at 7 p.m. to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

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Indigenous people from across the archdiocese will be sharing their culture and spirituality with music from Kateri Native Ministry of Ottawa and Akwesasne Mohawk Choir. A reception and fellowship will follow.

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What’s open and closed on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?

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Some schedule changes are in effect for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.

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The City of Ottawa’s 3-1-1 contact centre will be open for urgent matters only. Other city services, including municipal childcare centres and employment and social services, will also be closed on Wednesday.

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Curbside green bin, recycling and garbage collection will continue as normal. The Trail Waste Facility Landfill will also be open.

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Several museums and galleries, including the National Gallery of Canada, as well as the agriculture, aviation, history and science museums, will stay open and will offer free admission on Wednesday.

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All City of Ottawa community and recreation centres will be open.

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OC Transpo bus and train service, as well as Para Transpo, will run on a normal weekday schedule.

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