Honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
On September 30, we pause to reflect, remember, and grow together. At Recycle BC, we join Canadians in honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, holding space for survivors of residential schools, their families, and the children who never made it home.
The Orange Shirt Story
Like a seed planted in hope, six-year-old Phyllis Webstad arrived at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School in 1973. She wore a brand-new orange shirt her grandmother had lovingly purchased for her, filled with excitement about her first day of school. In her own words:
“I remember going to Robinson’s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had string laced up in front, and was so bright and exciting , just like I felt to be going to school! When I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never wore it again. The color orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.”
What was taken from Phyllis that day was far more than a shirt. The colour orange became a symbol of how children’s identities, cultures, and voices were stripped away. But like a resilient plant pushing through to see the sun, Phyllis transformed her painful story into a movement. Today, Orange Shirt Day blossoms across Canada each September 30, reminding us all that Every Child Matters.
Wearing Orange Together
This year, the Recycle BC team will wear orange shirts designed by an Indigenous residential school survivor. Just as each shirt carries a story, so too does each of us carry the responsibility to nurture reconciliation.
When we wear orange, we plant seeds of awareness and compassion, helping them take root in our workplaces, communities, and daily lives. Everyone is encouraged to wear an orange shirt, a simple but powerful act that helps these seeds of remembrance grow into flowers of understanding.
Learning and Growing at Recycle BC
At Recycle BC, we understand that growth comes through learning. Our team participated in an awareness training session led by Chastity Davis, an Indigenous leader specializing in reconciliation and equity. Our team found the session to be impactful, creating space for reflection, dialogue, and a deeper understanding of the truths in our Canadian history.
Our Ongoing Commitment
Reconciliation, like a garden, is not nurtured in a single season. It requires patience and constant care. At Recycle BC, we are committed to this journey, watering the seeds of awareness, pulling back the weeds of misunderstanding, and helping the values of truth, respect, and healing flourish. As part of this commitment, we have donated to the PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation, a W̱SÁNEĆ-led nonprofit dedicated to restoring Indigenous ecosystems, revitalizing cultural knowledge, and creating land-based learning opportunities. We are also exploring volunteer opportunities with the organization, extending our support beyond financial contributions to hands-on action.
On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, may we all wear orange, remember Phyllis’ words, and reflect on the children, families, and communities affected by residential schools. Together, we can help the seeds of truth grow into the flowers of reconciliation.
🧡 Every Child Matters.