National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
The National Day for Truth & Reconciliation is observed annually in Canada on September 30th, recognizing the legacy of the Indian residential school system. Now recognized as Holiday for Federal workers and in select Provinces, the day is also referred to as "Orange Shirt Day".
Orange Shirt Day was first established as an observance in 2013, as part of an effort to promote awareness and education of the residential school system, which is recognized as a cultural genocide and has impacted Indigenous communities for over a century.
The use of an orange shirt was inspired by Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose personal clothing—including a new orange shirt—was taken from her during her first day of residential schooling and never returned. Many Indigenous children had similar experiences when forced into the residential school system to assimilate, and many never returned home. Since Indigenous communities began discovering hundreds, then thousands, of unmarked graves, many Orange shirts have displayed the slogan "Every Child Matters".
You can observe The National Day for Truth & Reconciliation by wearing your Orange Shirt or sending a free eCard to observe the day.
- September 30, 2023 is also National Hot Mulled Cider Day | National Public Lands Day
- September is National Hispanic American Heritage Month | National Organic Harvest Month | National Piano Month
