On September 30, students and staff at Metropolitan Preparatory Academy gathered in the SMITH Studio for a school-wide assembly to observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

To mark the occasion, MetroPrep’s D Street Band presented an original student production directed by Principal Ryan Seeley. Bringing together nine student actors and ten musicians, the performance combined spoken-word poetry with live music to share Indigenous histories, stories, and calls to action. It was a thoughtful and moving opportunity for the school community to listen, learn, and reflect together.

The significance of Orange Shirt Day is rooted in the experience of Phyllis Webstad, whose orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at a residential school when she was just six years old. Her story inspired a movement that encourages Canadians to honour residential school survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and recognize that Every Child Matters.

At MetroPrep, occasions like this are an important part of helping students understand Canada’s history and their responsibility to engage thoughtfully with the world around them. Reconciliation extends beyond a single day of remembrance. It calls for continued learning, listening, reflection, and meaningful conversations throughout the year.

Through the creativity and dedication of our student performers, this year’s assembly offered a meaningful opportunity for the MetroPrep community to reflect on the past and consider our shared responsibility for the future.