A bill creating a statutory holiday to commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools has received royal assent in the Senate.

Canada’s first national day for truth and reconciliation will take place on September 30th.

Bill C-5 was fast-tracked for approval after last week’s grisly discovery in Kamloops, B-C of what are believed to be the remains of 215 Indigenous children in unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school.

The bill creates a statutory holiday for employees in the federal government and federally regulated workplaces.