This year, EIPS will commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.

In June 2021, the Canadian federal government fulfilled the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #80 by creating a national day of remembrance for children who attended residential schools. September 30 was chosen to co-ordinate with Orange Shirt Day. These two events hold space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to learn about the history and legacy of residential schools and to reflect on their own personal responsibility in the reconciliation process. It's an opportunity for First Nations, Métis and Inuit; local governments; schools; and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come. As September 30 falls on a Saturday this year, commemorative events will take place Divisionwide on September 29.

Orange Shirt Day grew out of a gathering of survivors held in Williams Lake, British Columbia in 2013, where Phyllis Webstad, who attended St. Joseph Mission residential school, shared her experience of having her new orange shirt taken on her first day.

EIPS will also lower flags to half-mast from dawn to dusk on September 30.

Additional Resources

Orange Shirt Day 

Learn more about Phyllis Webstad's orange shirt story (video)

Namwayut: We are all one (video)

St. Joseph's Residential School Stories (video)

Former students at the Edmonton Residential School recall the day they rioted for better living conditions (video story)

Students from Tk’emlups te Secwepemc, Kamloops—where 215 unmarked burials were discovered—created this short, four-minute video.

Residential Schools in Canada: A Timeline (video)

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation offers a wealth of information about residential schools and will be offering live, online sessions September 25 to 30.     

The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available for former residential school students and includes emotional and crisis referral services. Services are available around the clock and can be accessed by calling 1-866-925-4419.