On September 30, students and staff at Metropolitan Preparatory Academy gathered in the SMITH studio for a school-wide assembly observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, recognized across Canada as Orange Shirt Day.

To mark the occasion, MetroPrep’s D Street Band presented an original student production directed by Ryan Seeley. Nine student actors and ten musicians combined spoken-word poetry with live music to share Indigenous histories, stories, and calls to action, giving the school community a shared moment to reflect together.

That focus on listening connects directly to the story of Phyllis Webstad, whose orange shirt was taken from her on her first day of residential school at six years old. Her experience sparked a nationwide movement that brings Canadians together each autumn to honour residential school survivors and remember the children who never returned home.

For MetroPrep, events like this help students understand the history around them and grow into thoughtful, grounded young people. Reconciliation extends well past September 30, and it starts with listening and continuing the conversation in our classrooms throughout the year.