In pictures: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the significance of commemorating a "dark chapter" in Canada's history during the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation ceremony in Edmonton. Addressing the gathering of dignitaries at Fort Edmonton Park on Wednesday, Carney highlighted the focus on the children affected by the residential school system.

"Today is about all the truth," he stated, "and it's for the children. Those children. Those survivors. Those who didn't survive." The ceremony aimed to encourage the hearing of stories and reflection on a troubling period in Canada's past, with a commitment to moving forward together. The event marked one of many across Canada, reflecting the impact of more than 150,000 Indigenous children sent to church-run residential schools, where abuse and malnutrition were prevalent.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report from 2015 concluded that the residential school system was a key component of a state-backed policy of cultural genocide.