File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Doug Collins

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: National holidays should be more than just a day off

Sep 30, 2022 | 7:30 AM

Like everyone else, I enjoyed an extra day off during my working career. Those days off were originally meant to stand for something but, in reality, most of us just treat them as a free day with the family. So, I’m not generally a big fan.

New Year’s Day? B.C. Day? Family Day? Really? What do they mean? Nothing much.

Remembrance Day? Perhaps a little more significant. Many of us actually do something on that day.

Same with Canada Day. But even Christian holidays like Good Friday and Christmas have waned in significance, with fewer and fewer people attending services. Many churches have even reduced services on Christmas Day, as families would rather open presents and eat turkey than celebrate the birth of Christ. The midnight service on Christmas Eve has become a thing of the past.

Today marks our newest observance — National Truth and Reconciliation Day. Here’s a chance to reinforce a commitment to bring us together as part of a move toward healing and erasing the mistakes of the past — not that the tragedy of the Residential School system can be fully erased, nor should it be. But in learning from those lessons, we can change the direction of the future.

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This past week, we have placed special emphasis in many schools on teaching some of the history of Indigenous peoples. Yesterday, Tk’emlups te Secwepemc held the second engagement session to talk about the development of a healing centre.

Today, starting at 2:00 PM, there will be prayer, speeches and discussion at the former residential school.

This is a chance to make this holiday worth something, to give us a chance to continue dialogue that will give us a promise of true reconciliation. Words can ignite our spirit, actions fan the flames and build the fire. We’ve all heard the words, now it’s time for the fire.

Let’s make sure this day means something more than simply getting a head start on fall cleanup.

I’m Doug Collins and that’s One Man’s Opinion.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.