OTTAWA.— Ottawa Public Library (OPL) will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 with meaningful activities and conversations designed to support the reconciliation journey in the community.

Seven (7) OPL and Infoservice will be open on September 30, from 10 am to 5 pm to provide opportunities for learning and reflection: Beaverbrook, Cumberland, Greenboro, Main, Nepean Centrepointe, Ruth E. Dickinson, and St-Laurent. All other branches will be closed on that day.

Ottawa families and residents are also invited to explore multiple resources, and activities that will take place at different OPL branches throughout the month of September.

Mark these activities on your calendar, and join us along with your friends and family:

• OPL’s Heart Garden: From September 21 to 30, drop by any OPL branch to take home a heart garden, created in collaboration with the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library and to plant the seeds in the spring in honor of the lives lost and the survivors.
• The Kairos Blanket Exercice: On September 19, 20, 25 take part in these interactive and educational workshops to learn more about the impacts of colonization on Indigenous Peoples. View the full schedule and register today!
• Activities on September 30: Visit one of the seven (7) OPL open branches from 10 am to 5 pm to explore the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada maps, reflect on the 52 Ways to Reconcile by David A. Robertson, and watch films or documentaries featuring stories of victims and survivors of the Canadian Indian Residential School System.

In addition to these activities, we invite you to explore the books, magazines, DVD, CD and other materials displayed in OPL branches throughout the month to highlight Indigenous stories, cultures and experiences as well as the lasting impacts of the Canadian Indian Residential Schools System.