Every year on September 30, Canadians observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is a solemn occasion dedicated to acknowledging the historical and ongoing injustices faced by First Nations, Métis and Inuit.  The day honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.

On this day, schools across the country also recognize Orange Shirt Day, which specifically remembers the story of Phyllis Webstad, a survivor of the residential school system, who had her new orange shirt taken away on her first day at school. The orange shirt has gone on to become a symbol of a national movement aimed at fostering empathy, respect, and awareness of the hardships endured by First Nations, Métis and Inuit, promoting a more inclusive and equitable society for future generations. The orange shirt symbolizes the loss of culture, freedom, and self-esteem that many Indigenous children experienced. This day reminds us that Every Child Matters.  The topic of residential schools first appears in the revised Social Studies Curriculum in Grade 1, and many educators K-12 will take on this topic as part of their instructional program.

We encourage YRDSB staff and students (and Canadians everywhere) to wear an orange shirt on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, to recognize the resiliency and bravery of Residential School Survivors and those who did not come home.