The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation stands as an important day of reflection, education and healing across Canada. It was established in 2021 to honour the children who never returned home, the survivors of the residential school system and the families and communities still affected by its enduring legacy. It serves as a vital response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, reminding all Canadians that acknowledging historical truths is the first essential step toward meaningful reconciliation.

Intertwined with this federal commemoration is Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots initiative that inspired the national holiday. The movement began with the story of Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor. In 1973, she arrived at the St. Joseph Mission Residential School in British Columbia wearing a vibrant orange shirt gifted by her grandmother. The school authorities immediately stripped her of her clothing, a cruel act that symbolized the systematic erasure of Indigenous culture, identity and dignity. She never saw the shirt again.

Today, wearing orange on September 30 has become a powerful national visual statement against the many harms committed at the residential schools, and a public declaration that "Every Child Matters." We encourage Canadians of all ages, identities, and experiences to stand together as allies and embrace this opportunity for action and reflection.

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