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Honouring Tradition, Driving Change

September 30, 2025

Honouring Tradition, Driving Change

Every year on September 30, Canadians come together to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. It is a time to pause, reflect, and honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, Survivors who carry the weight of lived trauma, and the families and communities forever changed by this history. At the Royal Academy of Punjab, we recognize that reconciliation is not a single day—it is an ongoing responsibility that calls for action, partnership, and cultural solidarity.

Our journey of standing with Indigenous communities is rooted in respect and shared tradition. In 2013, our academy proudly participated in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s National Event in Vancouver. That gathering underscored the importance of listening, acknowledging, and committing to a new path forward. Since then, we have carried those lessons into our work, embedding reconciliation into the very fabric of our programming and community outreach.

One of the most meaningful milestones has been our Folk Lok Live series, where we partnered with First Nations artists and groups like Native Thunder. By blending the thunder of Indigenous drums with the heartbeat of Punjabi dhol, and combining Indigenous storytelling with Punjabi folk dance, we created performances that transcended entertainment—they became acts of dialogue and healing. These cultural bridges gave audiences, especially youth, a chance to witness the beauty of collaboration and the strength of resilience.

Through initiatives like these, we continue to create safe, inclusive spaces where youth can learn, share, and connect across traditions. For our academy, reconciliation is about empowering the next generation with understanding and respect. It is about giving Punjabi youth an awareness of the Indigenous peoples whose lands we live on, and giving Indigenous youth recognition that their culture is celebrated and honoured. Together, we build stronger communities through shared expression.

Today, on Truth and Reconciliation Day, we recommit ourselves to this journey. We acknowledge the unceded territories on which we live and work, and we extend gratitude to the First Peoples for their stewardship of the land. We pledge to use our platform not only to preserve Punjabi heritage, but also to stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities by promoting dialogue, understanding, and cultural exchange.

Reconciliation requires courage, humility, and a willingness to do the hard work of healing. At the Royal Academy of Punjab, we know that when cultures come together with respect, music and dance can become powerful instruments of change. Let us honour the past, support Survivors, and invest in a future where all communities can thrive together in dignity and unity.

Every Child Matters. Always.

#NationalDayForTruthAndReconciliation #EveryChildMatters #TruthAndReconciliation #OrangeShirtDay #FirstNations #IndigenousPeoples #RoyalAcademyOfPunjab #PunjabiCulture #FolkLokLive #CrossCulturalSynergy #CommunityHealing #SharedStories

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COVID-19 Health & Safety Plan
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Royal Academy of Punjab

Covid-19 Health and Safety Plan

Safe Physical Distancing: The dance floor has been marked into safe distance zones whichare at least 2 metres apart or more. Only one person is permitted per marker, and please stayin your marked area.

Hand washing: Please wash your hands or sanitize before your class and after your class.Use the sinks in the washrooms (one person at a time)

Masks: The most recent recommendation from Canada’s public health is that of wearing anon-medical masks or face covering as an additional layer of protection, even when physicaldistancing is active at the studio.

We recommend you wear a mask while attending a class if you are comfortable doing so, but do take it offif you experience dizziness or a shortness of breath while wearing it.

Our Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols: We have implemented enhanced antibacterialand antiviral cleaning and sanitizing protocols for all common areas and surfaces, includingwashrooms, light switches, door handles. etc. This includes increasing the frequency thatthese items are cleaned (number of times per day) as well as the timing (before and afterclasses).

If You Feel Unwell: If you are experiencing symptoms such as fever, chills, a cough, sorethroat, stuffy or runny nose, etc, or if you are in proximity with someone who is ill, please stayhome and DO NOT attend classes (This will be strictly enforced).

Class Times: We are staggering our class start times with a break between classes to allowfor cleaning and sanitization as well as to prevent large groups from congregating in thestudio during class cross over.

Limited contact: Staff and students are asked to please refrain from high fives and hugs forthe time being from public health advisors.

Travel: If you have recently travelled internationally, please stay home, self - isolate yourself,and refrain from attending the classes. Also, if you have travelled across different provinceswith-in Canada, it is mandatory to let us know in advance.

PARENTS: You can help! Please help your children read and understand these guidelines if youdecide to send them for their classes at the studio.We have given the full control to ourparents to make the decision of whether to send the children to the studio or continue theirclasses on ZOOM. We recommend to encourage the students to take safety as a priority andthen learn to keep themselves safe.