Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day

Tomorrow is Orange Shirt Day. Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis' story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission. September 30th has been declared Orange Shirt Day annually, in recognition of the harm the residential school system did to children's sense of self-esteem and wellbeing, and as an affirmation of our commitment to ensure that everyone around us matters.

This date is significant because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year. Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and communities across Canada to come together in the spirit of reconciliation. 

Please visit http://www.orangeshirtday.org/ for more information. I hope to see a sea of orange tomorrow as we show Pillars of Care.