Orange Shirt Day is celebrated across Canada every September 30th. As in the past, we invite our school community to join in honouring all those who attended residential schools. By wearing an orange shirt on September 30, 2020, we can help raise awareness and honour our Indigenous community. An Orange Shirt Day prayer/reflection as well as various class activities will help us mark this day.
What is Orange Shirt Day?
In the spring of 2013, a commemoration event was held in Williams Lake, BC to honour those who attended the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school. Orange Shirt Day was inspired by the experience and story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad whose shiny new orange shirt was taken away on her first day of school at the Mission. Her story and Orange Shirt Day has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.