To facilitate repairs on the water main serving Beaumont, the City is implementing a mandatory water ban for municipal operations and voluntary restrictions for residents to reduce non-essential water use, effective July 22, 2024.

Truth & Reconciliation

The City of Beaumont takes pride in our community’s cultural diversity and celebrates our Indigenous, French, and Agricultural heritage. Through our Strategic Plan, we make welcoming diversity and celebrating our cultural heritage one of our strategic pillars.

Jump down to: The National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (September 30) | Métis Week (week of November 16) | Indigenous People’s Day (June 21)

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation takes place on September 30. This day honours the survivors of residential schools and their families, along with the children who were taken from their homes and never returned.

There were 140 federally run residential schools in Canada that operated between 1831 and 1998, with the last one closing only 25 years ago. At these institutions, Indigenous children were stripped of their identities and forced to assimilate into Western culture. Former students have spoken of horrendous physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse at the hands of residential school staff.

Today, we observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to reflect on the tragic legacy of residential schools, the missing children, the families left behind and the survivors of these institutions. Public acknowledgement of the sorrowful and enduring history is crucial in the process of reconciliation.

What is Orange Shirt Day?

September 30 also marks Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots movement intended to raise awareness for the individual, family, and intergenerational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters.” Wearing orange attire on this day is a respectful way to honour the children, families, and communities affected by the residential school system.

How Orange Shirt Day began

Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event, held in Williams Lake, BC, in the spring of 2013, that was inspired by Phyllis (Jack) Webstad’s story of having her new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission.

The seizure of personal belongings was a common practice at residential schools, done to disassociate Indigenous children from their families and identities. The implementation of Orange Shirt Day has become an opportunity to honour the survivors and their families, and to keep the discussion of residential schools occurring annually.

Watch Phyllis Webstad tell her story and explain the origin of Orange Shirt Day.

Métis Week

Métis Week celebrates the culture, history and contributions of Métis people to Alberta and Canada with events held across the province. In 2024, Métis Week is being observed from November 14 to 19.

About Métis Week  

Each year, on November 16, Métis people across Canada pay tribute to the Right Honourable Louis Riel by holding a commemorative ceremony on the date of his execution. Louis Riel devoted and sacrificed his life defending the rights of Métis people. This ceremony symbolizes the commitment Métis people share in striving for and promoting the visions of Louis Riel and is one of the most important dates on the Métis calendar.

In addition to recognizing Louis Riel Day on November 16, the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) has declared the week of November 16 as “Métis Week.” The week is devoted to commemorating the sacrifices of the Métis who continue to strive toward rights and recognition as a distinct nation.

To honour Métis Week, the City of Beaumont is officially proclaiming the same dates as Métis Week in Beaumont and raises the Métis flag at City Hall for the week.

By doing so, the City recognizes the important role that Métis people have played in the founding and development of Beaumont, and the contributions they continue to make to our great city.

Métis People in Beaumont

In 2020, we asked several residents what it means to them to be Métis. Watch the videos below to hear about their unique perspectives and histories.

National Indigenous People's Day

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the contributions and achievements of First Nations, Métis and Inuit. The City of Beaumont proclaimed June 21 as National Indigenous Peoples Day [pdf], beginning in 2022.

On June 21, you can learn more about the diverse cultures, history and traditions of Indigenous Peoples who live in Canada. Beaumont has put together a list of suggestions to help residents take personal actions of reconciliation.

How to get involved

Resources

Learn more about Indigenous culture and the troublesome history of residential schools.

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Rupertsland Institute Métis Centre of Excellence

Residents who identify as Métis can access employment services and financial support for post-secondary education

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Rupertsland Centre for Métis Research at the University of Alberta

Learn more about the Métis, their history, their rights and contemporary Métis issues.

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Indigenous books for youth

20 Canadian books for kids and teens to read for National Indigenous History Month

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Indigenous books

35 books to read for National Indigenous History Month - CBC

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Indigenous Canada MOOC

Free 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta.

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National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Educational resources

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Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action

[PDF]

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First Nations, Inuit and Métis learning resources

Explore the rich and diverse cultures, experiences and stories of Indigenous Peoples in Canada - Government of Canada

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Residential Schools Module

Resources from It's Our Time - Assembly of First Nations

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Residential Schools in Canada

Resources and information from the Canadian Encyclopedia.

Mental health supports available

Former residential school students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada.

Indigenous Peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for counselling and crisis intervention. Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat.

Beaumont residents can contact Family & Community Support Services at 780-929-1006 for emotional support and referral services.