Orange Shirt Day 2024
Honour the experiences of residential school survivors by joining a University-wide event to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Students, librarians, faculty and staff may register to attend this event in-person or watch the livestream.
Agenda
- Registration opens at 9:30 am
- Land Acknowledgement
- Welcome - David Kim, Warden, Hart House
- Remarks - Meric Gertler, President, University of Toronto
- Remarks - Bill Gough, Acting Vice-President, University of Toronto, and Principal, University of Toronto Scarborough
- Keynote address - Shirley Cheechoo, Canadian Cree actress, writer, producer, director, visual artist
- Closing remarks - Wesley J. Hall, Chancellor, University of Toronto
Attend in person
Watch online
Other ways to participate
Wear an Orange Shirt Day Shirt
All members of the U of T community are encouraged to wear an orange shirt on September 30 in the spirit of reconciliation. Doing so affirms that “Every Child Matters.” You can wear any orange shirt to show your solidarity.
In recognition of Orange Shirt Day 2024 and the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives has partnered with the U of T Bookstore on a limited supply of orange t-shirts.
The shirts feature an award-winning design by MJ Singleton, an Ojibwe, two-spirit student from Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation who is studying at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Their design, titled noojimo'iwe, emphasizes the importance of healing the intergenerational trauma of residential schooling by supporting and loving those around you. It portrays a mother holding hands and walking forward with her two children. Above them is a bright sun with contour lines connecting to a floral pattern and designs representing all living things.
All proceeds from the sale of these shirts will be directed to the Orange Shirt Society—no proceeds will go to the U of T Bookstore or the University of Toronto.
Purchase your shirt from the U of T Bookstore
Participate virtually
We also encourage all U of T community members to use the Orange Shirt Day virtual background and profile icon, featuring MJ Singleton's design, the week of September 24-30.
Download the Orange Shirt Day Profile Icon
Download the Orange Shirt Day Virtual Background
The story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad
Orange Shirt Day is based on the story of Phyllis Webstad, who in 1973, entered the St. Joseph Mission Residential School at the age of six. She was stripped of the orange shirt she was wearing and forced to wear the institutional uniform.
September 30 was chosen to mark the date when trucks and buses would arrive in communities to take children to residential schools. These schools operated in Canada between 1831 and 1996.
Learn more about Phyllis (Jack) Webstad
For more information on the event, please visit the event page