when is orange shirt day

Orange Shirt Day is observed annually on September 30. It is also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. This day commemorates the history and ongoing legacy of the Canadian Indian residential school system, honors survivors, and remembers the children who never returned home. The date was chosen because it aligns with the time of year when Indigenous children were historically taken from their homes to residential schools. The day also serves as an opportunity to raise awareness and promote education about this part of history, with the symbolic orange shirt representing the forced assimilation experienced by Indigenous children. The official tagline is "Every Child Matters".