CONTENT WARNING: Residential School and Related Traumas
On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, JFK Law will pause activity to observe Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Our offices will be closed so that members of our team can take the day to honour residential school Survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and reflect on the work that reconciliation asks of each of us.
Every September 30th, Canadians are encouraged to wear orange in memory of the children lost to the residential school system and in recognition of the survivors, families, and communities who continue to carry its intergenerational impacts. The orange shirt itself traces back to Phyllis Webstad, whose new shirt was taken from her on her first day at residential school. It has become a national symbol of the culture, freedom, and self-esteem that the system tried to strip away.
The scale of the residential school system is difficult to absorb. For 165 years, a network of 139 residential schools operated across Canada in nearly every province and territory. An estimated 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, some as young as four, were taken from their families, forbidden to speak their languages, and prohibited from practicing their cultures. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has since confirmed at least 3,200 student deaths at the schools, a figure that Survivors and researchers agree far understates the truth. This is not distant history. The last residential school did not close until 1996, and the impacts are still felt today. Acknowledging these facts is an important first step, but what we do with this information matters just as much.This is why this year’s theme is especially meaningful. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has named its 2026 theme “Taking Truth to Action.” It’s a call for all of us to move beyond learning about the history of residential schools and toward action that meaningfully advances reconciliation. It is a theme that resonates deeply with the work we at JFK do every day. Reconciliation is not a single gesture or a single day. It is a standing obligation for each of us.
Standing in solidarity on this day is especially important following the events of this past weekend, when a group of masked white supremacists came onto Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc reserve lands apparently seeking to intimidate the community and spread narratives that deny the history and atrocities of the residential school system.
Residential school denialism is a despicable form of hate. It dismisses the truth told by survivors and dishonours the children who never returned home. JFK Law unequivocally condemns these actions and the misinformation behind them. We stand with Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc and with everyone who refuses to let this history be denied, rejected, or ignored.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, released in 2015, remains a concrete roadmap for steps we can take to advance reconciliation. Action 80, which created this very statutory holiday, was answered in 2021. Most of the others are still waiting on governments, institutions, and each of us to act.
What does “taking truth to action” look like beyond September 30? A few starting points:
- Learn from Survivors and Indigenous-led sources. Begin with materials created by Survivors and Indigenous organizations, and recognize that no single voice or community speaks for every Indigenous Nation.
- Read the Calls to Action. Familiarize yourself with the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action and the MMIWG Inquiry’s Calls for Justice, and pay attention to which have been implemented and which have not.
- Deepen your understanding through structured learning. As starting points, the University of Alberta offers a free “Indigenous Canada” course online (found here), or check out the online Lunch and Learns hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (found here).
Communities across the country host public gatherings, ceremonies, and educational events on and around September 30th. See a list of events you may wish to check out in your area below.
Reconciliation is both a personal and professional responsibility. For us, that means advancing the recognition of Indigenous rights, title, and self-determination through the law. This work is not confined to a calendar. On September 30th, we step back to listen and reflect. On October 1st, and every day after, the work continues.
If reflecting on the residential school system brings up difficult emotions, support is available. The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line offers 24-hour support to Survivors and their families at 1-866-925-4419. The Hope for Wellness Help Line provides 24/7 support to Indigenous peoples across Canada at 1-855-242-3310 or through online chat. Every child matters; in remembrance, and in action.
Victoria, BC:
Xe Xe Smun’ Eem – Victoria Orange Shirt Day.
Date and time: September 30th at 12:00 p.m.
Location: Centennial Square.
About: This annual community ceremony honours Survivors and features a land blessing, the raising of the Orange Shirt Day flag to half-mast, a moment of silence, and Indigenous and non-Indigenous performances and speakers. Participants are encouraged to wear an orange shirt.
South Island Powwow (Songhees Nation).
Date and time: September 30th. Gates open at 10:00 a.m., Grand Entry at 12:00 p.m.
Location: Royal Athletic Park, 1014 Caledonia Ave, Victoria, BC.
About: The annual South Island Powwow is an opportunity to recognize Survivors and their families in the spirit of reconciliation. Through song and dance, we will celebrate traditional Indigenous cultures and resiliency.
Victoria nətsəmat Gathering
Date and time: September 30th at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Victoria Inner Harbour Causeway
About: Members of the public are invited to gather at Protocol Corner at Victoria Inner Harbour (the southeast corner) to witness canoe protocol as Songhees and Esquimalt leaders welcome youth to lək̓ʷəŋən lands. A procession will follow to Explore Songhees Kiosk at Ship Point, where 215 seconds of silence will be observed, as well as remarks, stories, and a dance performance.
Find other local events here.
Vancouver, BC:
Truth and Reconciliation Free Film Screening.
Date and time: September 30th at 12:30 p.m.
Location: Trout Lake Community Centre, Outdoors Gravel Field — 3360 Victoria Dr., Vancouver.
About: Join us at Trout Lake Community Centre for an afternoon of cinema, reflection, and community as we honor the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. We are proud to present a double-feature screening of two powerful National Film Board of Canada (NFB) documentaries that explore Indigenous identity, history, and resilience.
2026 Intergenerational March to Commemorate Orange Shirt Day.
Date and time: September 30th at 11:45 a.m.
Location: UBC Outdoor Amphitheatre, 1956 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC.
About: The Intergenerational March to commemorate Orange Shirt Day (OSD), hosted by the Faculties of Land and Food Systems and Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, reflects the Faculties’ commitment to the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan and welcomes UBC community members, families and those in solidarity.
The March is designed to be educational and supportive of the Indigenous community on campus and beyond. Educational activities will help younger participants connect with the original inhabitants of the land and begin conversations at home about a difficult era in Canadian history.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2026.
Date and time: September 30th at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Queen’s Park South Field, New Westminster, BC.
About: The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be happening at Queen’s Park in New Westminster, an event to learn, reflect, honour, and remember. We’ll be witnessing ceremonies and hear from important guest speakers. There will also be a teaching powwow presented by the Buffalo Thunder Group, plus opportunities to participate in cultural activities, supporting local vendors, and much more. Food trucks will also be on site.
Find more local events here.
Toronto, ON
9th Annual Indigenous Annual Fathering.
Date and time: September 28th to 30th. Schedule varies.
Location: Nathan Phillips Square.
About: The Toronto Council Fire Native Indigenous Centre will host this multi-day event that explores Indigenous culture through music, dance, workshops, and performances.
Date and time: September 30th at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Hillcrest Park – 17 Hillcrest Dr., Toronto, ON.
About: September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation—a day to honour Survivors of residential schools, the children who never returned home, and their families and communities.
Na-Me-Res invites you to join us as we come together to remember, reflect and continue the journey toward reconciliation.
All Wychwood community members and their families are welcome.
Date and time: September 30th at 7:00 p.m.
Location: CN Tower Square.
About: On September 30, 2026, the CN Tower and Orange Shirt Society will host a special community gathering at the base of the Tower to mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The Tower and other landmarks, including Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena, The Bentway, Canada Malting Silos and the Public Pier, will light Toronto orange for the event and to honour Phyllis Webstad (Secwepemc, Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation), whose experience at residential school inspired the Orange Shirt Day movement and its message: Every Child Matters.
The evening will feature remarks from Elders and Indigenous community members, a musical performance by Jordan Hart of his original song 215 and Counting, and traditional drumming and jingle dress dance performances at the base of the CN Tower. The Tower’s orange illumination will be fully visible after dusk, offering a powerful visual symbol of remembrance, resilience, and reconciliation.
Everyone is welcome. If you plan to attend, please take a moment to register here so we can better understand who will be joining us.
Montreal, QC
Date and time: September 30th at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Westmount Park (Ste-Catherine & Melville).
About: Organized by the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, the March marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Wear an orange shirt to honor residential school Survivors.
Musical Performance at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
Date and time: September 30th at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Location: 1380 Sherbrooke St. W.
About: As part of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Innu soprano Elisabeth St-Gelais will perform Rien ne tuera ma lumière, a text by Innu poet Maya Cousineau Mollen set to music by Anishinaabe composer Barbara Assiginaak. Inspired by Woman sitting on a Bed by George Segal, which is part of the permanent collection of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, this work for solo voice was commissioned jointly by Salle Bourgie and the International Festival of Literature (FIL) in 2023. The concert will be presented in memory of composer Cris Derksen, who passed away tragically last May.
To purchase an orange shirt from an Indigenous artist or business, visit: