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🧡 Truth & Reconciliation Day
SJ Today
September 28, 2025
Good morning, Saint John! Tomorrow is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to honour Survivors and remember the children who never came home. We’ll be taking the day ourselves - there’s no issue tomorrow, but today we want to share the meaning of the day and how you can take part locally.
In todays issue:
A Day to Remember 🧡
Another slow Roll Across the Bridge đźš—
Arts dreams with a deadline ⏰
PS - 🎉Thais Barros Santos celebrated a birthday on Saturday! Happy belated from Cleidi and SJ Today.
Let’s get into it!
-Geoff Walsh, Publisher
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NEWS NOTES
🧡 Truth and Reconciliation Day
It’s only the fourth year Canada has officially marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, but the story goes back much further. September 30 grew out of Orange Shirt Day, inspired by Phyllis Webstad’s story of having her new orange shirt taken away at a residential school in 1973. The shirt has since become a symbol for the children lost, survivors, and the work still left to do.
The day is also about reflecting on the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the work governments, institutions, and communities still need to carry forward.
Here in Saint John, there are a couple of ways to take part, including a Healing Walk at Rockwood Park and a free film screening at the Imperial Theatre. You can also tune into the national broadcast from Ottawa. Full details are in today’s events section.
You can also take a few minutes to learn more about the history of Indigenous people in Canada by browsing National Centre for Truth & Reconciliation , Canadian Heritage Site Crown-Indigenous Relations, or guides from the New Brunswick Multicultural Council.
🚧 Harbour Bridge night closure
Heads up, drivers. Westbound lanes on the Harbour Bridge will be closed overnight Tuesday, September 30 from 6pm to 6am. Only one lane will stay open, with flaggers and a “follow me” truck guiding traffic. Delays are expected, so plan ahead if you’re crossing the bridge during the work.
🎨 Arts grants up for grabs
Got a big, bold, or brilliant idea for Saint John’s arts scene? The City wants to hear it. Applications are now open for the 2025 Community Arts Grants (Fall/Winter edition), supporting local non-profits bringing visual, performing, literary, media, or material arts projects to life. Deadline is Sunday, October 26, so sharpen those pencils, tune those guitars, and get to applying.
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EVENTS
What’s Happenin’
Stories that Honour National Truth and Reconciliation Day | September 29
Dave Smith with First Nations Storytellers shares personal stories that lift reconciliation and offer ways we can all contribute. The event runs from 6:30–8:00 pm on Monday, September 29, 2025. Bring a chair if the weather allows the gathering will be outdoors, or inside the Brundage Point River Centre if it rains. Free and open to all. Come to listen, come to learn, come to reflect.
Saint John Healing Walk | September 30
Join an Indigenous-led Healing Walk along the Trans Canada Trail in Rockwood Park. The walk honours the children lost to residential schools and celebrates Survivors and community resilience. It begins at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Wear orange, bring a hand drum if you have one, and walk rain or shine.
Film Screening: You Can Call Me Roger | September 30
The Imperial Theatre hosts a free screening of You Can Call Me Roger. The event is on at 7:00 pm. Admission is free, but tickets are required from the box office. A chance to gather, reflect, and engage with the story of reconciliation.
National Broadcast: Remembering the Children | September 30
Tune in live from Parliament Hill on APTN or partner broadcasters. The 90-minute broadcast features Elders, Survivors, and Indigenous artists sharing reflections, stories, and performances. It starts at 3:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. I’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.
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SIDE NOTES
Today’s Tides 🌊
High Tide | 5:23 AM(Mon 29 September) | 6.46 m(21.2 ft) |
Low Tide | 11:34 AM(Mon 29 September) | 2.4 m(7.87 ft) |
High Tide | 5:44 PM(Mon 29 September) | 6.74 m(22.11 ft) |
🚢 On this day in 1946
The last passenger steamboat on the Saint John River, the D.J. Purdy, made her final trip from Fredericton. After retirement, she became a dance hall at Gondola Point before meeting her fiery end in 1948.
Thanks!
Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who likes news you can use. đź“°
-Geoff Walsh - Publisher