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Sept. 30 is a day to honour the Survivors of Canada’s residential school system and to remember the children who never came home.

Marking both Orange Shirt Day — Every Child Matters and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, this day invites everyone in Canada to learn about the lasting harms of residential schools and deepen their commitment to reconciliation.

Orange Shirt Day is a grassroots movement that began in Williams Lake, British Columbia, in 2013. By wearing an orange shirt on Sept. 30, participants help promote awareness of the intergenerational impacts of residential schools and share the message that “Every Child Matters.”

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established in response to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It recognizes Survivors, their families and their communities, and is intended to ensure that the legacy and enduring harms of the residential school system are publicly remembered.

To learn more, read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. You can also mark the day by taking part in commemorative events in your community.