The National Residential School Crisis Line 1-866-925-4419

 Orange Shirt Day

In April of 2013 Phyllis Webstad shared her story of attending the St. Joseph's Mission Residential School at a Truth and Reconciliation Commission Gathering in Kamloops, BC. She spoke of how her new orange shirt was taken from her on the first day of school and never returned. People participating in the event adopted the narrative as an analogy of the way that language, family, culture, and safety was taken from children that attended Indian Residential Schools in Canada. Out of these events and of Phyllis' story came the legacy project that become Orange Shirt Day. 

 National Day For Truth and Reconciliation

In June of 2021 the Canadian government declared September 30th the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation through an act of Parliament. This was done in response to one of the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

80. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, 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.