2025 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

*Photo Credit: Kenny Hunter. Dancers at the Canmore General Hospital, NDTR 2024

Wearing an orange shirt symbolizes the harm done to residential school students and their families, as well as a personal commitment to the principle that every child matters. By acknowledging and understanding the truth of the past, we can take steps to move forward towards reconciliation.

We have commemorated Orange Shirt Day on September 30 for many years, to recognize the history and truthful impacts of residential schools in Alberta. The Orange Shirt Day movement started in 2013 after a Residential School Survivor spoke about having the orange shirt her grandmother bought for her taken away on her first day of school when she was 6 years old. Read Phyllis’ story here. In 2021, Orange Shirt Day became the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Alberta's health agencies will be commemorating the day with reflective sessions on Wednesday, September 24. We encourage everyone to honour September 30 as a day of personal reflection or to take part in events in your community.