Started in 2013, in Williams Lake, British Columbia, Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission Residential School commemoration and reunion events. Phyllis Webstad shared the memory of her shiny new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, that was taken from her on her first day at the school.

The St. Joseph Mission Residential School, which was open from 1891-1981, was one of 130 residential schools in Canada. Now the day honours the Survivors, those who didn’t make it and the families that have been impacted by residential schools.

The Orange Shirt Society encourages and supports the commemoration of Orange Shirt Day.

Orange shirts will be on sale at the U of G Bookstore the week of September 25. 

Indigenous Initiatives, the Indigenous Student Centre and the Bookstore have collaborated to bring a unique orange shirt to campus in acknowledgement of Orange Shirt Day. $5 from the sale of each shirt will be donated to the Survivor Secretariat, an organization that organizes and supports efforts to uncover, document and share the truth about what happened at the Mohawk Institute during its 140+ years of operation.

The design was created by Kaitlin Gallant, Indigenous graphic designer, illustrator and beadwork artist.

In honour of Residential School Survivors and the children who never returned home, the shirt depicts a Forget-Me-Not flower surrounded by Sage and Sweetgrass. Sweetgrass braids remind us of our strength when we come together, and sage supports our healing.