Cobourg, ON (September 21, 2023) – The Town of Cobourg invites community members to participate in upcoming events to commemorate the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Council has endorsed the Town’s truth and reconciliation initiatives, which encompass policy remediation, internal training, and community engagement efforts.

“In order to achieve true Truth and Reconciliation, changes at a systemic level must happen,” says Yasmyn Belle, Accessibility and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator. “The Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls for a shared commitment to deconstructing long-standing mechanisms of inequity, ignorance, and injustice. It challenges us to question the status quo, recast our narratives, and weave equity, understanding, and healing into the very fabric of our institutions and society.”

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation takes place annually on September 30 to honour the survivors of residential schools, inspire us to pause to remember the children who never returned home, and acknowledge the generational impact on their families and communities. The public are invited to participate in the following events planned for Friday, September 29 and Saturday, September 30:

Special Screening of ‘Bones of Crows’
Date: Friday, September 29, 2023
Time: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Location: Second Street, Cobourg. This is an outdoor, bring your own chair event.
The Town of Cobourg in collaboration with the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) will host a special screening of the film ‘Bones of Crows’ written and directed by Metis playwrite, Marie Clements. This film follows a Cree woman who survives the Indian residential school system to become a code talker for the Canadian Air Force during World War II.

This event promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of Indigenous history and culture.

Warning: This film portrays difficult moments, like Indigenous children being taken from their families and cultural loss. It aims to reveal a painful history, but it can be upsetting. Be mindful of your feelings when watching and reach out for help if needed.
Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310. Rating: 14+

Note: Rain location is the Cobourg Community Centre. Watch for updates on @TownofCobourg social media.

Flag-Raising Ceremony
Date: Friday, September 29, 2023
Details: Details for this will be announced on social media and Cobourg.ca/truthandreconciliation next week.

Shuttle Service to Alderville Ceremony
Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
Cobourg Council invites community members to access a free shuttle bus service from Cobourg to the annual Truth and Reconciliation Day ceremony in Alderville First Nation, located approximately 25 minutes north of Cobourg.

Pick-ups will take place at 9:10 a.m. at 35 Albert Street (Downtown Bus Terminal), and 9:20 a.m. at the Northumberland Mall bus stop (outside Scotiabank). The shuttle will leave Alderville back to Cobourg at both 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., with drop-offs at Northumberland Mall and 35 Albert Street.

Please reserve your seat on the Eventbrite registration page.

In addition to these events, Cobourg Council approved a series of impactful Truth and Reconciliation initiatives, including:

• Permanent Flying of the Every Child Matters Flag: The Town will permanently display the “Every Child Matters” flag on the flagpole in Rotary Harbourfront Park located beside the newly revamped seven feathers crosswalk. The flag permanently flies not only as a commemoration but also a commitment to remembering Indigenous lives that were tragically lost within the residential school system which spanned over 150 years, with the nearest such institution to Cobourg being situated in the Alderville First Nations Reserve.
  
  
• Recommitment to Indigenous Consultation: Council is recommitting to ongoing procedural and policy refinement by intentionally including Indigenous consultation wherever feasible. This includes reintroducing optimal practices aligned with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). This comprehensive framework respects and integrates the Duty to Consult into Town policies and procedures, fostering a more inclusive and respectful community.

The Town of Cobourg EDI Strategy, 2022 – 2026 provides a framework to allow municipal staff to better understand, engage, serve, and respond to the needs of our increasingly diverse community. To learn more, visit Cobourg.ca/truthandreconciliation.

Community Cultural Events

The Town of Cobourg would also like to encourage the community to participate in other community driven events:

• Northumberland Christian School’s Truth and Reconciliation Day Concert, September 29, 11 a.m. at Victoria Park in Cobourg
• Northumberland Players Presents Cottagers and Indians, September 15 to October 1, Firehall Theatre in Cobourg.