National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2026: closures and service changes

In 2021, Kingston City Council declared that Sept. 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – will be a civic holiday to encourage municipal employees and the community to observe the occasion as intended. Learn how this may affect services, programs and facility hours for the City of Kingston, Utilities Kingston and other community organizations.

The following services will change on Sept. 30 

Garbage and green bin Collection will be delayed by one day this week, with no collection on Sept. 30. Sign up to receive collection reminders by phone, push notification or email through our website.

Kingston Disposal Site (189 Lappan's Lane): Closed.

Kingston Transit: Customer Service Office closed (transit service unchanged).

Administrative offices: All administrative offices, including Housing and Social Services and Provincial offences, are closed.

Kingston Grand Theatre, Walter Fenlon & Linda Ann Daly Box Office: Closed.

PumpHouse Museum: Closed.

Tett Centre: Office closed. The building remains open.

The following services will not change on Sept. 30

Kingston Transit: Weekday schedule in effect.

Kingston Access Bus: Regular service.

Utilities Kingston and Kingston Hydro: Open. For customer service and utility emergencies, call 613-546-1181.

INVISTA Centre/ Fitness & Wellness Centre, Artillery Park Aquatic Centre, Rideau Heights Community Centre, Kingston East Community Centre, arenas: Open.

CaraCo Home Field: Open.

Swimming lessons and drop-in programming: City of Kingston programs at the west-end BGC South East will run as scheduled.

Confederation Basin and Portsmouth Olympic Harbour marinas: The Confederation Basin Marina office and fueling stations at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour are open.

Kingston Frontenac Public Library: all library branches are open, and specific branch hours are on the on the KFPL website.

Events and Commemorations

The community is invited to explore the 94 Calls to Actions, which will be displayed on panels in Confederation Basin from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2. On Sept. 30, City Hall will be illuminated in orange and an Every Child Matters flag will be raised. The Every Child Matters Kingston Transit bus continues to raise awareness around the city.

Beyond Land Acknowledgements: From Words to Transformative Change

Sept. 27, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., The Spire – 2nd floor, 82 Sydenham St.

Land acknowledgements have become a common starting point across Canada, but what comes next?

Join respected Indigenous rights lawyer and author John A. Olthuis for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about moving beyond symbolic gestures toward real, systemic change. Drawing on decades of legal advocacy and insights from his book, this event will explore what it means to dismantle settler colonial systems and build more just relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

This is not just a conversation about reconciliation. It’s about responsibility, action and rethinking how our institutions share power, land and decision-making. Register for the free event through Eventbrite.

Community Walk for Truth and Reconciliation

The community is invited to come together for a walk in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. The gathering will begin at McBurney Park at 5 p.m. with a smudge and opening words, with the walk beginning at 5:30 p.m. Together, the group will head to Confederation Park, sharing drumming, singing and dancing along the way. All are invited to bring their prayers, drums, voices and regalia.

The Every Child Matters Kingston Transit bus will accompany the walk for those requiring accessibility support and will provide transportation back to McBurney Park afterward.

All are welcome to walk in remembrance, truth and community.

This event is organized by the Walk for Truth and Reconciliation Working Group.