September 30 marks Orange Shirt Day and the sixth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is a day to honour Survivors, confront the enduring legacy of Canada’s residential school system, and commit to meaningful action in advancing reconciliation through substantive change in the TDSB.
Orange Shirt Day, founded in 2013 by Phyllis Webstad, is observed on September 30. Orange Shirt Day honours First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Survivors of residential schools, remembers the children who never returned home, and acknowledges the ongoing intergenerational trauma carried by families and communities. Wearing orange is a visible act of remembrance, solidarity, and a tribute to Survivors, and the more than 4,000 children identified in unmarked graves.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation hosts Truth and Reconciliation Week from September 21 to 25. Schools can access resources provided through the NCTR Educators’ Portal to create spaces for dialogue, reflection, and commitments to action.
The TDSB will mark Orange Shirt Day on Tuesday, September 30. Staff and students can explore the Orange Shirt Day resource package from the TDSB’s Urban Indigenous Education Centre (UIEC), which supports meaningful learning, dialogue, and collective action. An Orange Shirt Day poster is also available for distribution.
