National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to be Observed by Region of Queens Municipality

September 21, 2021; Liverpool, NS:  Recognizing the importance of the relationship with the Indigenous community, the need for reflection and education about the importance of reconciliation, and to honour the lives of the survivors and grieve the children who never returned home from residential schools, Region of Queens Municipality will be closing its offices and non-mandatory operations on September 30, 2021 to allow staff to observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“Of the many actions recommended in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, we are pleased to see a day enacted federally to acknowledge the terrible legacy of residential schools, and the mistreatment of Indigenous people over the years.  This is a day to reflect and remember, to grieve, and to take action, ensuring that moving forward, Indigenous people are treated equitably and with dignity,” said Darlene Norman, Mayor of Region of Queens Municipality.

Closure of the municipal offices and non-mandatory operations will enable municipal staff to be able to participate in Truth and Reconciliation Day events and educational opportunities, and to reflect and learn. Queens Place Emera Centre and regular municipal operations will be closed for the day, excluding Queens Solid Waste Management Facility, which will operate as usual.  Waste collection will take place as scheduled.

At the September 28, 2021 Region of Queens Council meeting, a Civic Holiday Bylaw will be introduced, which will make September 30 each year, beginning in 2022, Truth and Reconciliation Civic Holiday throughout Queens County.  Although the federal government created a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in the form of a statutory holiday for all federal public sector workers and federally regulated private sector workers and the Province of Nova Scotia will close provincial government offices, public schools, and regulated child care, neither of these announcements apply to municipalities. 

“Council is pleased to be able to allow municipal staff to have a day of reflection on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and are also pleased to introduce a bylaw to enact a civic holiday in Queens County which, if passed, will be in place prior to the September 30, 2022 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” said Mayor Norman.