September 30 is an annual day to recognize & raise awareness about the residential school system in Canada, join together in the spirit of reconciliation, and honour the experiences of Indigenous People. Share your support and orange shirt on September 30th with the hashtag #orangeshirtday on social media.
Orange Shirt Day is inspired by Phyllis Webstad’s story. On her first day of residential school, Phyllis’s grandmother gave her a brand new orange shirt . When Phyllis got to residential school, her shirt was taken from her and never returned. The colour orange has always reminded Phyllis of her traumatic experience at residential school.
If you need support during this time (or at any time of year), please consider these resources:
Drop-in counseling at the Longhouse. No appointment needed:
Tuesdays, 1 – 4 pm, with Renée
Wednesdays, 1 – 4 pm, with Michael
Thursdays, 1 – 4 pm, with Leslie
Kuu-us 24hr crisis line:
Adult/Elder Crisis Line: 250-723-4050
Child/Youth Crisis Line: 250-723-2040
Find more information about Residential Schools in our Indian Residential Schools in Canada Research Guide.
Visit the Indian Residential School and Dialogue Centre at UBC. They are open Monday to Friday from 10am-3pm.
Check out the Orange Shirt Day website to read more on the story behind this day of remembrance.
The Museum of Vancouver is offering free admission on Monday, September 30th, for visitors who wear their orange shirt from 10am-5pm. make sure to visit their “There is Truth Here: Creativity and Resilience in Children’s Art from Indian Residential and Day Schools”exhibit. The exhibit focuses on focuses on rare surviving artworks created by children who attended the Inkameep Day School (Okanagan), St Michael’s Indian Residential School (Alert Bay); the Alberni Indian Residential School (Vancouver Island) and Mackay Indian Residential School (Manitoba).
If you are looking for children’s books on residential schools, please look at our Residential Schools Children’s Books List.
