Watch the High Level Bridge Turn Orange Over the River Valley
At dusk on September 30, stand on the south bank of the North Saskatchewan and look up. The High Level Bridge, the Walterdale Bridge, City Hall, the Muttart Conservatory, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton Tower and the Rossdale Power Plant are all lit orange for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — a coordinated signal across the skyline that the city is marking the day, not just observing it. Earlier, flags at Edmonton City Hall are lowered to half-mast and "Every Child Matters" banners are raised in Churchill Square. Walk through the square, then follow the river valley to the ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11∞ Indigenous Art Park at 10380 Queen Elizabeth Park Road, where crosswalk art is repainted for the season. Two traffic control boxes — at Parsons Road & 23 Avenue, and 23 Avenue & 111 Street — are wrapped in Indigenous artwork, small pieces of the day embedded in ordinary commutes.
Run, Walk or Round Dance at Kinsmen Park
The 6th Annual Orange Shirt Day Run/Walk, hosted by Indigenous Runner, takes over Kinsmen Park, 9100 Walterdale Hill NW. In 2026 it falls on September 27, running from noon to 6pm, with the site opening and package pickup at 11am. The afternoon opens with a Round Dance at noon, followed by the 2.15 km at 1pm, the 10 km at 1:45pm and the 5 km at 1:55pm. Registration is required, and the day includes learning opportunities, a Root for Trees plant giveaway, food trucks, and cultural performances with singers and a drum group. Come as a participant or as a spectator — either way, wear orange.
Walk the Heritage Loop at Fort Saskatchewan
The Fort Heritage Precinct at 10006 100 Avenue in Fort Saskatchewan holds a full day of commemoration from 9:30am to 4pm. The morning begins with smudging, tea and bannock, and opening remarks, before a drum-led community walk along the 1.2 km Heritage Loop Trail. The exhibition "Hear Our Voices: Michel People and Residential Schools" is open free from 10am to 4pm. It is a quieter, more grounded way to spend the day — and the bannock is part of the invitation, not an afterthought.
Spend the Day at Fort Edmonton Park and St. Albert
Fort Edmonton Park at 7000 143 St NW opens its Indigenous Peoples Experience from 9am to 4pm — an immersive exhibit on First Nations and Métis histories, cultures and perspectives, covering stories from before and after European settlement. In St. Albert, Mission Park at 15 Mission Avenue hosts a gathering from noon to 4pm with guest speakers, Knowledge Keepers, performers, local artisans and food vendors, followed by an Honour Walk from Mission Park to Kâkesimokamik/The Healing Garden. Both put Indigenous voices at the centre of the day rather than at its edges.
Eat, Listen and Keep Learning Through the Month
Food vendors at the St. Albert gathering and food trucks at Kinsmen Park are where you will find the day's shared meals — bannock, tea and whatever the vendors bring. Beyond September 30 itself, the City runs lunchtime programming throughout the month with local musicians and performers in partnership with the Edmonton Arts Council, including performances on September 27 and 28. If you are visiting with children, CBC Kids has age-appropriate videos on Indigenous cultures and experiences, and there is a curated book list of children's titles by First Nations, Inuit and Métis authors. The City of Edmonton's website lists additional local events and educational resources, and the Indigenous Relations Office (18th Floor, Edmonton Tower, 10111 104 Avenue NW; indigenousrelations@edmonton.ca; 780-944-7602) can point you to them.
September 30 is a federal statutory holiday, established through Bill C-5 in response to Call to Action No. 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Police Service treat it as a paid day of leave for staff. That means the day is yours to fill deliberately. Book the run or walk registration early if you want a bib, plan your route between the river valley lights and one of the park gatherings, and wear orange — a gesture that began with Phyllis (Jack) Webstad's story in Williams Lake, British Columbia, in 2013 and has since become the country's shared way of remembering. Start with the City of Edmonton's page, pick your gathering, and put the date in your calendar.