A PTN has signed a two-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with CBC/Radio-Canada and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) to collaborate on the annual special Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The MOU was signed for an initial two years and is automatically extended unless terminated by one of the partners, according to a spokesperson for APTN.
Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a 90-minute special presented in English, French and Plains Cree, and supported by Canadian Heritage.
Monday’s (Sept. 30) broadcast is hosted by Hockey Night in Canada in Cree host Earl Wood and APTN News correspondent Danielle Rochette and takes place on Parliament Hill at 3 p.m. ET. The event honours the survivors and victims of Canada’s residential schools, with speakers including survivors Jacquie Pizendewatch, Madeleine Basile, Keith Cheifmoon, Joan Dicker, Brian Normand and Charlotte Nolin. Performers include Tom Jackson, Diyet & The Love Soldiers, Andrina Turenne and Jessica Sparvier-Wells.
The special will air live on APTN, APTN Languages and aptnnews.ca, as well as a number of CBC platforms: CBC TV, CBC News Network, CBC Gem, CBC News Explore, cbcnews.ca, the CBC News app, the CBC NewsYouTube channel, Ici Télé, Ici Tou.TV, Radio-Canada.ca and Espaces autochtones.
APTN and NCTR previously collaborated on the annual special, which marks Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Remembering the Children had previously been aired by CBC as part of a cross-broadcast strategy to amplify access across the country.
Both networks have also scheduled full-day programming, including the world broadcast premiere of Jules Arita Koostachin’s documentary WaaPaKe (National Film Board of Canada) on APTN, which examines the intergenerational trauma created by residential schools.
Several Canadian channels and networks are participating in the cross-broadcast in 2024. The participants include Blue Ant Media (T+E, Makeful, Cottage Life, Smithsonian and BBC), Bell Media (CTV2, CTV Apps, CTV NewsChannel, CTV News App, CTVNews.ca and Crave), Rogers Sports & Media (Citytv Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg), Inuit TV, Uvagut TV, Hollywood Suite, Knowledge Network, OUTtv, TFO, Unis TV, CHCH TV, CPAC and the Canadian Press.
“Commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not just a day of reflection but a call-to-action for healing and understanding,” said APTN CEO Monika Ille in a statement. “At APTN, we are committed to honouring the resilience of residential school survivors by offering programming that sheds light on their stories, fosters dialogue and encourages all Canadians to walk this path of reconciliation together.”
CBC/Radio-Canada president and CEO Catherine Tait added: “As the national public broadcaster, one of our most significant responsibilities is to reflect the experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit across Canada. We are honoured to work together with APTN and the NCTR to help Canadians remember the children, recognize the survivors of residential schools, and reflect on their role in the ongoing journey toward Truth and Reconciliation in this country.”
Image courtesy of APTN