City of Burlington will Observe Orange Shirt Day & National Day for Truth & Reconciliation on Sept. 30; City Hall will be Closed
*Please see below a news release issued by the City of Burlington.
Burlington, Ont. — Sept. 22, 2022 — The City of Burlington will observe Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Friday, Sept. 30. To mark the importance of the day, City of Burlington administration buildings, including City Hall, will be closed.Sept. 30 is also recognized as Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day inspired by the story of Indian Residential School Survivor Phyllis Webstad. As part of Orange Shirt Day, residents can come to Spencer Smith Park where local Indigenous people and support groups will have a public display or ceremonial gathering between 4 and 7 p.m. A reflective walk will start at the Pier at 4 p.m. and end at the Lift Bridge lighthouse where a ceremony will take place before heading back to Spencer Smith Park. Participants wishing to join are encouraged to wear orange shirts and moccasins.We encourage residents to visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website for educational materials and resources.City Services open and closed on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022:
| City Service | Holiday Closure Information |
| Animal Services | The Animal Shelter at 2424 Industrial St. will be closed to appointments on Friday, Sept. 30.To report an animal control-related emergency, call 905-335-3030 or visit www.burlington.ca/animal. |
| Burlington Transit | Burlington Transit will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Sept. 30. For real-time bus information and schedules visit myride.burlingtontransit.ca.The downtown terminal at 430 John St. will be open from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Specialized Dispatch will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Halton Court Services | Court administration counter services at 4085 Palladium Way will be closed on Friday, Sept. 30.With the exception of the closure on Sept. 30, telephone payments are available at 905-637-1274, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. All in-person services are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Many services are also available by email at burlingtoncourt@burlington.ca or online at Halton Court Services. |
| Parking | Paid parking will be in effect on Sept. 30.Free parking is available downtown, on the street, in municipal lots and in the parking garage (414 Locust St.) on weekends and after 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.NOTE:
Parking exemptions are required to park overnight on city streets and for longer than five hours. Visit burlington.ca/parkingexemptions. |
| Recreation Programs and Facilities | Recreation facilities are open for scheduled programs and rentals on Sept 30.All registered programs (e.g. swimming lessons) and all drop-in recreation programs, will run on Sept 30. Drop-in recreation program schedules are available at burlington.ca/dropinandplay. Residents are encouraged to check with the rental organization directly for any changes to their schedule for the holiday. |
| Roads, Parks and Forestry | The administrative office will be closed on Friday, Sept. 30. Essential services will be provided as required. |
| Service Burlington | The Service Burlington counter, temporarily located on the third floor at 390 Brant St., south of City Hall, will be closed to all appointments and walk-in service on Friday, Sept. 30.Many service payments are available online at burlington.ca/onlineservices. |
Burlington is a city where people, nature and businesses thrive. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at burlington.ca/subscribe and follow @CityBurlington on social media.Quick Facts:
- In June 2021, the federal government passed legislation proclaiming Sept. 30 a public holiday. The holiday is one of 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and is intended to honour and commemorate Indian Residential School survivors and those children that did not make it home.
Links and Resources
- Learn more about Orange Shirt Day and how you can contribute: www.orangeshirtday.org.
- Hear Survivor stories and read the Calls to Action at National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
- Learn more about the history of Indigenous people in Burlington and Canada through these resources: https://mariannemeedward.ca/indigenous-community-in-burlington