CMHA of NB joins Canadians across the country in observing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.
The day was established by the federal government to honour survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Orange Shirt Day has been observed on September 30th since 2013, when Phyllis Webstad shared her story at the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event in Williams Lake, BC. At 6 years old, Phyllis was excited to wear her new orange shirt, given to her by her grandmother, to her first day of residential school. However, her shirt was taken from her when she arrived, and she never saw it again. The slogan “Every Child Matters” was chosen to recognize that the children who attended the schools felt that they did not matter. Orange Shirt
Day is commemorated to continue the dialogue on the tragic effects of residential schools, listen to stories of survivors, remember those who didn’t make it, offer an opportunity for learning, and bring people, institutions, and governments together in the spirit of reconciliation.
In 2021, the federal government passed Bill C-5, recognizing September 30th as a federal holiday under a new name: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
