Orange Shirt Day Today

Today is Orange Shirt Day. It is a day to honour and recognize survivors and those that attended residential school.
Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity to create meaningful discussion about the effects of residential schools and the legacy they have left behind.

It is a dialogue that all Canadians can contribute to which in turn creates meaningful movement in the process of reconciliation.
Orange Shirt Day is a day of affirmation for survivors and their families to let them know that we are here to support them and remember those who are no longer with us.

Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School Commemoration
Project and Reunion that took place in May 2013. Phyllis Webstad shared her story of St. Joseph’s
Mission Residential School when she had her new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother,
taken from her as a six-year old girl.

The BC Assembly of First Nations honours survivors, their families and communities and
reiterates the message from the Assembly of First Nations, “we encourage everyone to learn
more about this part of Canada’s history and to support measures that will change the situation
for First Nations today.”