National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day

• Ontario recognizes September 30^th as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day to honour Survivors of Indian Residential Schools, and remember the children who did not make it home.

• The Indian Residential School system operated across Canada for well over 100 years, with the last schools closing in the 1990s. More than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children from across the country were forced to attend Indian Residential Schools, which were often located far from their homes. Thousands never made it home.

• Orange Shirt Day was inspired by Indian Residential School Survivor Phyllis Webstad, who bravely shared her experience of attending St. Joseph Mission Residential School in British Columbia.

• In 2021, the federal government designated September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action #80, which called for a federal statutory holiday to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure public commemoration of the history and legacy of the Indian Residential School system.

• This year, Ontario is marking the fourth observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day by encouraging the public and all Ontario public servants to learn about, and reflect on, the legacy and ongoing impacts of the Indian Residential School system.

In the spirit of reconciliation, please visit Ontario.ca/LearntheLegacy to learn about the history of Indian Residential Schools and consider participating in local events in your community and around the province