A new grant program from the provincial government will support initiatives that raise awareness of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Manitoba’s newest statutory holiday.
The province has earmarked $800,000 in one-time grant funding for events and activities centred around the holiday, also called Orange Shirt Day, which is marked on Sept. 30.
“I want every child and every family in Manitoba to have the opportunity to reflect on the legacy of residential schools, the children who didn’t come home and the profound impacts of that trauma on families that still exists today,” Premier Wab Kinew said in a statement Wednesday.
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The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also called Orange Shirt Day, is marked on Sept. 30.
“Our government is proud that Manitobans will be able to observe it as a provincial holiday for the first time this year and we’re supporting projects that will help bring more Manitobans together to mark Orange Shirt Day.”
The funding is open to a range of applicants, including non-profit organizations, Indigenous communities, educational institutions, day cares, and municipal governments.
Proposals up to a maximum of $25,000 will be eligible, but “consideration may be given to larger proposals that demonstrate commitment, significant partnerships and the potential for exceptional regional or provincial impact,” the grant’s guidelines state.
Applications can be submitted online at http://wfp.to/orange. The deadline to apply is Aug. 1.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation became a federal statutory holiday in 2021. Manitoba established the day as a provincial stat in December of last year.