During Smiths Falls’ town council meeting on Monday evening, Mayor Shawn Pankow proclaimed September as Big Brother Big Sister month. “You may notice in the evenings, our water tower is lit purple now, in honour of Big Brother Big Sister month,” he explained.

On September 21, the town’s iconic water tower will be lit blue, in honour of World Alzheimer’s Day.

And finally, from Sept 26 to Sept 30, the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, the water tower will be awash in orange light. The Truth and Reconciliation Committee made 94 calls to action “to redress the legacy of Residential schools and advance the process of reconciliation,” said Mayor Pankow. “Recommendation 80 was the establishment of a statutory holiday, a national day for truth and reconciliation to ensure the truth of residential schools remains a vital part of the reconciliation process.”  All Canadians and all levels of government have a role to play in reconciliation, Pankow noted, and the town of Smiths Falls is committed to recognizing this.

To mark Truth and Reconciliation Day, also National Orange Shirt Day, the town will be hosting an Every Child Matters event at 630 pm on Sept 30. The event will begin in Victoria Park, with a procession to Duck Island at twilight, and the whole community is welcome to join.

Article by Janelle Labelle