September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Many people also know it as Orange Shirt Day.
It is a day to remember the children who were sent to residential schools — the ones who came home, and the ones who never did. It is also a day to honour the survivors, their families, and their communities, and to listen to what they have to tell us.
This post is a little different from my usual ones. There’s no scam to warn you about and no setting to change. Just a story worth knowing, and some trusted places to keep learning.
The Story Behind the Orange Shirt
In 1973, a six-year-old girl named Phyllis Webstad was getting ready for her first day at the St. Joseph Mission residential school near Williams Lake, British Columbia. Her grandmother had given her a new, shiny orange shirt for the occasion.
When she arrived at the school, it was taken from her. She never wore it again.
Phyllis shared her story publicly in 2013, at a commemoration event for survivors of that school. The orange shirt became a symbol of everything taken from the children who attended residential schools — their clothing, their languages, their families, their culture, and their sense of being cared for. September 30 was chosen because it was the time of year children were taken from their homes.
The words on the shirts and flags you see today — Every Child Matters — say plainly what those children were too often denied.
What Residential Schools Were
For more than 150 years, the Canadian government and churches ran a system of schools that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children were taken to — often far from home, and often against their families’ wishes. More than 150,000 children attended. The last federally run residential school, Gordon’s Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, closed in 1996.
That date matters. Many survivors are our neighbours, our friends, and people of our own generation. This is not distant history.
In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its final report, along with 94 Calls to Action. One of them, Call to Action 80, asked for a federal day to honour survivors, their families, and communities. In 2021, September 30 became that day.
🧡 A day for listening
Reconciliation isn’t one day of the year, and it isn’t something any one of us finishes. But a good place to start is simple: listen to survivors when they share their stories, believe them, and keep learning.
Trusted Places to Keep Learning
This is something the internet does very well. Survivors, Elders, and Indigenous organizations have recorded their own stories, in their own words, and much of it is free to read, watch, and listen to.
A few good places to start — all free:
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (nctr.ca) — the home of the survivors’ statements and records gathered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, including the full report and the 94 Calls to Action
- Orange Shirt Society (orangeshirtday.org) — Phyllis Webstad’s story, told by the organization she helped found
- Legacy of Hope Foundation (legacyofhope.ca) — survivor stories, photographs, and exhibitions about residential schools and their impact
- CBC Gem (gem.cbc.ca) — documentaries and films by Indigenous filmmakers, free with a CBC account, which you can stream on a computer, tablet, or smart TV
As always, check the URL at the top of your browser before you start reading. And if a site asks for your personal information or payment just to read an article, close the tab. Nothing bad happens from closing a tab.
✓ If you’d like an orange shirt
Not every orange shirt sold online supports Indigenous communities. Before you buy, look for shirts designed by Indigenous artists, or sold by Indigenous-owned businesses or organizations, and check the product description to see where the money goes. The Orange Shirt Society’s website lists the stores that sell its official shirts.
If You Need Support
For survivors and their families, this day can bring up a great deal. Free support is available, any time:
- National Indian Residential School Crisis Line — 1-866-925-4419, available 24 hours a day
- Hope for Wellness Help Line — 1-855-242-3310, available 24 hours a day to all Indigenous people across Canada, with online chat at hopeforwellness.ca
From me to you
To every survivor, and to every family still carrying this history: I see you, and I’m listening. Every child matters. 🧡
⚠ Disclaimer
This article is for general information and awareness only. Historical information is drawn from publicly available sources including the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, the Orange Shirt Society, and the Government of Canada. The Lady Tech is not affiliated with any organizations mentioned. Phone numbers and website links were current as of September 30, 2026.