This Friday, September 29th, Wilkinson is observing Orange Shirt Day.
All students and staff are encouraged to wear orange.
“Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013. It grew out of [a young aboriginal girl named] Phyllis’ story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually. The date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year. It also gives teachers time to plan events that will include children, as we want to ensure that we are passing the story and learning on to the next generations.
Orange Shirt Day acknowledges the history and legacy of the residential school system in Canada by honouring survivors and remembering those who did not. It is a day to demonstrate, by wearing orange, that all students matter.”
– Trustee Jennifer Story, Ward 15 Toronto-Danforth (TDSB)
The orange shirt taken from one child is a symbol of the many losses experienced by thousands of indigenous students, their families and communities over several generations. These include loss of family, language, culture, freedom, parenting and self esteem.
For more information, visit orangeshirtday.org, the Wilkinson Library website and the TDSB website.
Although Orange Shirt Day is September 30th, schools across the TDSB will mark the day on Sept 29th.
