Sisters and Brothers,
September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Established to honour the survivors of the residential school system, remember the children who never returned home, and recognize the wide-reaching impacts of these institutions on Indigenous families and communities, September 30th is now recognized by the Federal and some provincial and territorial governments as an annual statutory holiday.
This day has also historically been recognized and commemorated across the country as Orange Shirt Day; a day to remember and honour all the Indigenous children taken from their families and communities and sent to residential schools, where they experienced abuse, racism, violence, and mistreatment. This day helps to continue the conversation and efforts around reconciliation. Those who have suffered tell their stories and continue to heal; for the rest of us, it’s about supporting our Indigenous brothers and sisters that have been affected and to remind ourselves that Every Child Matters.
For Canada’s unions, this means continuing to support Indigenous workers and communities and ensuring something like this never happens again.
As part of our efforts, IBEW Canada seeks to establish an Indigenous Circle for those members of the IBEW that wish to participate. The purpose of this Circle is to bring Indigenous members together from across Canada, creating a space for voices and ideas that will strengthen our union and advance our reconciliation efforts.
This Circle will aim to connect Indigenous members across our union, share experiences, and bring forward initiatives to better support Indigenous people working in the electrical industry. It will also help the IBEW continue to lead the way in promoting inclusion within the Building Trades and the broader Labour Movement.
An initial online meeting will be scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 7:30 pm EST. IBEW members in Canada that wish to participate may express their interest here.
This September 30th, we ask that you take some time to learn more about this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by exploring the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and stories of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples; start your learning journey today.
Resources
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Learning resources about First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada
In Solidarity,
 | Russ Shewchuk International Vice President IBEW First District, Canada |