2025 TRUTH & RECONCILIATION EVENTS IN METRO VANCOUVER

While Orange Shirt Day has been recognized in a variety of ways since 2013,  Canadians officially observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th, 2025. BC schools will be closed, and many families are looking for opportunities to reflect and learn in a respectful way. We have rounded up a number of in-person Truth & Reconciliation Day events in Abbotsford, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, New Westminster, North Vancouver,  Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver, Whistler, as well as virtual gatherings you can join from home.

Plus you can continue the learning at home with these books & movies.

ABBOTSFORD

Stetís ímexstowx (Walk Beside Us)
Address: 32388 Veterans Way, Abbotsford, BC
Date and Time: September 30, 10 AM to 3 PM
Website: https://stetisimexstowx.ca/our-time-together/
Highlights: The gathering starts with an opening ceremony at Thunderbird Square and the opening of the stations. The day will include a storywalk, art exhibition, family activities, drumming, cedar weaving, pine needle basketry, puppetry and more.

MAPLE RIDGE

Walking Together: A Journey of Unity and Healing
Address: Memorial Peace Park, Maple Ridge, BC
Date & Time:  September 28th – 9:30 am
Website: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2025 | Facebook
Highlights: Organized by Katzie First Nation and PLEA Community Services, this event brings together the Maple Ridge community to celebrate and honour Indigenous strength and culture, featuring an opening march, Indigenous guest speakers, local dancers, drummers, artists, and a motivational talk from hip-hop artist K.A.S.P. Attendees can also enjoy orange shirt painting, a community art project, and explore over 50 vendors and artisans sharing their craft. This event is sponsored by Canadian Heritage, Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, Westcoast Family Centres, Coast Mental Health, Miss 604, Alouette Addictions, the City of Maple Ridge, and the City of Pitt Meadows.

NEW WESTMINSTER

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
Address: Queen’s Park South Field, New Westminster, BC
Date & Time:  September 30th, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Website: 🧡 National Day for Truth and… – Spirit of the Children Society | Facebook
Highlights: Spirit of the Children Society will host this event filled with speakers, food, dance, and vendors. All are welcome to witness and learn!

NORTH VANCOUVER

AT THE MUSEUM
Truth & Reconciliation Day
Address: 115 West Esplanade, North Vancouver, BC
Date & Time: September 30th, 11:00am – 4:30pm
Website: Truth & Reconciliation Day Tickets, Tue, Sep 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite
Highlights: Join the activities all day at MONOVA to engage and learn through hands-on activities designed to inspire reflection and meaningful dialogue for guests of all ages.

SURREY

Orange Shirt Day
Address: Holland Park; 13428 Old Yale Rd, Surrey, BC
Date & Time:  September 29,  4:00pm – 6:00pm
Website: Orange Shirt Day | City of Surrey
Highlights: Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee (SUILC), Skookum Surrey and the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA) in partnership with the City of Surrey invites and encourage everyone to join in observing and participating in this important day. There will be a drum March from City Hall to Holland Park that starts at 3:45pm. Members of Semiahmoo, Katzie, and Kwantlen First Nations will be present for an event that includes storytelling, youth dancers, drumming, a round dance, bannock and jam, tea and coffee.

VANCOUVER

National Truth & Reconciliation Day Event – Honouring the Past, Healing the Present, Inspiring the Future
Address: Grandview Park – 1657 Charles St. & Commercial Drive
Date & Time: September 30, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Website: Truth & Reconciliation Day 2025 – Honouring the Past, Healing the Present, Inspiring the Future | Facebook
Highlights: This event, hosted in partnership with: Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council, VACPC, Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society, Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, REACH Community Health Centre, Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society, and Britannia Community Services Centre, will include cultural and contemporary performances, a sacred fire, and an Indigenous market. There will be an honour walk at an Honour Walk at 10:00 AM from the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre to Grandview Park. Bring your drums and wear orange!

Intergenerational March to Commemorate Orange Shirt Day
Address: 1956 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC
Date & Time: September 30th, 11:45 am – 3:00 pm
Website: Intergenerational March to Commemorate Orange Shirt Day on September 30, 2025 – Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Highlights: Join the intergenerational march to commemorate Orange Shirt Day (OSD). Members of the UBC community, families and those in solidarity are welcome to participate. The march is intergenerational, and aims to be educational and supportive to the Indigenous community on campus and beyond. Educational activities will allow younger participants to connect with the original inhabitants of the land and plant a seed to continue these conversations about a difficult era in Canadian history at home.

Orange Shirt Day Commemoration
Address: 700 Templeton Drive, Vancouver, BC
Date & Time: September 30th,  2:00 pm
Website: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1180829607403942&set=a.555443476609228
Highlights: Commemorate Orange Shirt Day in Community at the Templeton Pool Welcome Garden. Let’s gather and remember together. Drumming, earth art, music, speakers, tea, dancing, ice cream and more!

WEST VANCOUVER

Storytelling, Songs, and Crafts with Lisa Lewis
Address: 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC
Date & Time: September 27th, 11:30 am
Website: https://westvanlibrary.ca/event/storytelling-songs-and-crafts-with-lisa-lewis-ages-5-9/
Highlights: Join Lisa Lewis, a Squamish Nation author, as she reads her book Tsunaxen’s Journey and teaches traditional Squamish songs and crafts. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver.

WHISTLER

National Truth & Reconciliation Day at SLCC
Address: 4329 Main Street, Whistler, BC
Date & Time: September 30th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Website: https://slcc.ca/ndtr/
Highlights: You are invited to experience and connect with immersive programming and storytelling of Skwxwú7mesh and Líl̓wat7úl at the SLCC, the living culture of the original people of the shared territory where Whistler resides.

KELOWNA

Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society Truth & Reconciliation Event
Address: 442 Leon Avenue, Kelowna, BC
Date & Time: September 30th, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Website: National Truth & Reconciliation Day | Facebook
Highlights: At the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, join in their annual march on Leon Avenue followed by a candlelit vigil, speeches and presentations. There will be an open mic and soup and bannock. The winners of the youth essay contest will receive their awards. 

NANAIMO

Wellness Unites: A Community Event for Health & Reconciliation
Address: Multiple Locations
Date & Time: September 30th, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Website: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Highlights:  The public is invited to unite in wellness for a community event for health and reconciliation. Free activities include open swims and skates, gymnasium sports, arts and crafts, Lego station, refreshments, plus event t-shirt sales (while supplies last) and more!

VIRTUAL

Truth & Reconciliation Week 2025
Date & Time: September 22nd – 26th
Website: https://trw-svr.nctr.ca/
Highlights: Truth and Reconciliation Week 2025 is a transformative five-day journey for students (grades 1-12), educators, and the broader community to engage with the poignant history and enduring spirit of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Explore interactive workshops, witness the profound “The Gifts We Carry” youth empowerment gathering, engage in meaningful dialogues, and contribute to our collective path toward reconciliation.

Weaving Cultural Identities  
Date & Time: September 30th
Website: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=gaaWbvYL3CK
Highlights: Take a virtual tour of this exhibit from Vancouver Biennale that brings Indigenous and Islamic communities together in a collaborative exploration of weaving traditions and histories. The works unpack uneasy issues of belonging, displacement, diaspora, the land, and identity.

WHERE TO BUY AN ORANGE SHIRT

One of the ways you can show your support on the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (aka Orange Shirt Day) is by wearing orange. Be mindful of purchasing your shirt from Indigenous designers and businesses, and/or the official retail partners of the Orange Shirt Society. We recommend ordering online, or calling ahead before visiting a store as Orange Shirts are in high demand and sell out quickly!