National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30th
Surrey United proudly operates on the shared, unceded, traditional territory of the Katzie, Semiahmoo, Kwantlen, and other Coast Salish Peoples. We are grateful for their stewardship of these lands and incredibly thankful for the opportunity to play the beautiful game of soccer here.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
On September 30, 2024, we will observe Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is dedicated to acknowledging the tragic history and enduring impacts of Canada’s residential school system. We remember those who didn’t make it home and support those impacted by the generational trauma of the residential school system. Throughout the weekend of September 28-29 as well as September 30th, our club will once again honor this important day.
In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada laid out 94 calls to action, meant to advance the process of reconciliation in Canada. Informed by these calls to action, Surrey United is committed to the following as part of our own journey towards reconciliation:
Our Commitments:
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Listening and Learning: Surrey United remains dedicated to educating ourselves further about First Nations, Indigenous, and Métis cultures. We are deeply invested in listening, learning, and increasing awareness. This includes a commitment to raising awareness within our community and fostering lasting relationships and partnerships with our Indigenous communities. Over the weekend of September 28-29, as well as on September 30th, you’ll notice orange signs posted at the entry points to all of our fields. These signs have a QR code that invites you to learn more about why Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day are so important.
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Wearing Orange: On Monday, September 30th, we encourage all teams to wear orange shirts to their training sessions. You’ll notice several of our team staff wearing orange pins, designed and purchased from an Indigenous-owned company. This is our way of recognizing and acknowledging the importance of Orange Shirt Day and reinforcing our commitment to reconciliation. To understand the significance and meaning of this gesture, please visit the Orange Shirt Society.
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Raising Awareness: We will continue to find opportunities to raise awareness within our community, while listening to more deeply understand our role in reconciliation. This includes continuing to acknowledge the territories that we are so fortunate to live, work, and play on every day. In 2022, Surrey United established its Accessibility, Inclusion and Diversity committee. In partnership with our Operations Committee and Board, we invite you to join us in honoring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
To learn more about this committee and to explore the opportunity to join, please reach out to Brieann Spencer at: vpsocial@surreyunitedsoccer.com.
Please note that all training sessions will proceed as scheduled on September 30th.
For those interested in learning more about Truth and Reconciliation or in supporting Indigenous, First Nations, or Métis community resources, please explore the following resources: