Our flowers are simply breathtaking.

On June 3rd, 2021, the Federal Government passed bill C-5 to officially mark September 30th as a statutory holiday called National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This important call to action has been established to honour survivors, victims and families of residential schools and commemorate its history, legacy, and impact on the indigenous community.

September 30th is also Orange Shirt Day, a movement that started in 2013, where the orange shirt symbolizes the generational stripping of indigenous culture, freedom and self-esteem and is worn to raise awareness and commemorate the legacy of residential schools.

At Florists Supply, we acknowledge that this day is intended to be a vital component in the reconciliation process. We are taking steps to educate and reflect on residential schools’ effect on Indigenous peoples. Last year we made a donation to True North Aid, who is dedicated to serving and supporting Northern Indigenous communities, many of who were displaced due to forest fires, through practical humanitarian support. Its mandate is to provide practical humanitarian assistance through initiatives established on eight foundations of support. These include self-determination, reconciliation, water, food, health, housing, hope and education.

We plan to again donate to True North Aid on this day and will also provide staff with educational materials. These materials are to help us all reflect on residential schools’ impact on the indigenous community and what steps we can take toward reconciliation.

We invite others to reflect with us on how Reconciliation can be incorporated into your lives every day. To learn more, please visit:

National Centre For Truth and Reconciliation:  https://nctr.ca/

Reconciliation Canada: https://reconciliationcanada.ca/get-involved/how-to-get-involved/

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents/calls_to_action_english2.pdf

48 Books to Read by Indigenous Writers to Understand Residential Schools: https://www.cbc.ca/books/48-books-by-indigenous-writers-to-read-to-understand-residential-schools-1.6056204

Canadian Human Rights Museum: https://humanrights.ca/story/childhood-denied

Learn how to properly acknowledge the land we live on: https://www.whose.land/en/