Thursday September 30 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

At Metro Prep, we are honouring the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. It’s our duty as part of the reconciliation process to educate about and commemorate the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools.

Please wear orange this Thursday as Orange Shirt Day also takes place! Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who did not.

This day relates to the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, on her first day of school, where she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

On September 30, we encourage all Canadians, not just our staff and students, to wear orange to raise awareness of the very tragic legacy of residential schools, and to honour the thousands of Survivors.