Thursday Sept. 30^th is Orange Shirt Day and the first official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is a day for all of us to recognize, reflect and generate awareness about the trauma and legacy of the residential school system in Canada.

Orange Shirt Day began in 2013, when Phyllis Webstad, from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, first told her story of attending residential school, where the new orange shirt her grandmother had given her for school was stripped from her. Since that day, September 30^th has been recognized across Canada as Orange Shirt Day, an opportunity to discuss in a meaningful way the effects of residential schools.

Click here to read the full statement about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation from Ms. Winnie Doyle, Interim President and CEO, St. Joseph’s Health System.