Orange Shirt Day
The Northwestern Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association would like to encourage members to acknowledge and participate in Orange Shirt Day on September 30th, 2021.
NWARTA members are invited to show their support for Every Child Matters, by writing a supportive message, or better yet taking a picture, to post on the NWARTA Facebook page.
Those members posting a message and/or picture will have their names entered into a draw for an orange t-shirt. While the recipient may not have it to wear this year, the t-shirt will be available to them to show their year-long recognition of every child being important. NWARTA’s Facebook page may be accessed https://www.facebook.com/groups/79653514380741 Or if you prefer, you may send your supportive message by return email.
The draw will be made on October 1, and the winning recipient will be contacted to ask what size t-shirt they would like.
Also, some may want to participate in The Grande Prairie Friendship Centre 5km walk/run to “honour and remember”. The walk/run will start at 4:00 pm with a prayer and the walk/run will begin at 4:30 at the Muskoseepi Park Pavilion. For more information and to register, see https://www.gpfriendshipcenter.com/mmiwg2s-walk-run
There are events planned in many communities that members may wish to access.
And here’s a little more information about the ORANGE T-SHIRT from The Centre for Social Innovation website, an organization supported by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, the City of Toronto, to name a few. https://socialinnovation.org/news/2021/09/26/september-30-is-orange-shirt-day-heres-how-you-can-participate/
HISTORY OF ORANGE SHIRT DAY
“The Orange Shirt Day movement began from the story of Phyllis Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. In 1973, on her first day at St. Joseph’s Residential School in Williams Lake, BC, the orange shirt her granny bought for her for her first day of school was stripped from her. Forty years later, on September 30th, 2013, Phyllis spoke publicly for the first time about her experience, and from there, Orange Shirt Day began.”
“The Government of Canada recently legislated September 30 as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The passing of Bill C-5 follows the 2015 TRC recommendation that Orange Shirt Day be formally recognized as a federal statutory holiday.”
- Event Date: September 30, 2021
