September 30 is Orange Shirt Day

Hello everyone:

On Wednesday, September 30, we recognize Orange Shirt Day to honour the survivors, victims and lasting effects of Canada’s Residential Schools. ​Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their homes, families and communities to attend state and church-led schools that stripped them of their culture, language and identity. This created irreversible harm from which many families still suffer.

The date September 30 was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to Residential Schools. The orange shirt became significant because of the story of Phyllis Webstad, who in the early 1970s had her orange shirt taken away on her first day at the Residential School St. Joseph Mission (SJM) in British Columbia.

We encourage you to wear orange on Wednesday, September 30 to honour the lives lost and survivors of Residential Schools.