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Rainbow Schools wore orange on Thursday, September 28th
Staff and students in Rainbow Schools wore orange on Thursday, September 28th, 2017 to show support for residential school survivors.
“Orange Shirt Day” recognizes the effects and intergenerational impacts of the residential school system on First Nation, Métis, and Inuit children in Canada.
“This important gesture brought us together in the spirit of reconciliation,” said Director of Education Norm Blaseg. “It provided an opportunity for staff to open up or continue the conversation about residential schools with students.”
He added: “Participation in Orange Shirt Day demonstrates our collective commitment to building our ongoing understanding and show that every child matters.”
Orange Shirt Day began in Williams Lake, British Columbia by the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration project. Phyllis Webstad, a young girl from the Dog Creek reserve, attended the Mission in 1973, where her clothes were removed, including her brand new orange shirt.
Phyllis’ story inspired the Mission to declare September 30th Orange Shirt Day, as this was the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to attend residential schools.
In light of the Professional Activity Day on Friday, September 29th, 2017 students and staff in Rainbow Schools wore orange on Thursday, September 28th, 2017.
To learn more, visit http://www.orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story.html
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Media Contact:
Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705.674.3171, ext. 7217.