On September 30, the district will formally observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. Schools will be closed on Wednesday, September 30, offering time for reflection on residential schools and our collective history. We encourage everyone to wear orange in recognition of this important day.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

This day honours the children who never returned home, along with residential school survivors, their families, and their communities. Learning about our history is essential to the reconciliation process, and public education continues to play an important role in this journey.

In classrooms across our district, students and staff have been engaging in conversations and learning experiences that support understanding, empathy and a commitment to reconciliation.

To learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, please visit the Government of Canada’s official website.

Orange Shirt Day

The Richmond Board of Education reaffirms its commitment to reconciliation and invites all members of our school communities to honour Orange Shirt Day.

The orange shirt is a powerful symbol of the loss of culture, freedom, and self-esteem experienced by many Indigenous children through the residential school system. By wearing orange, we recognize residential school survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and uphold the message that Every Child Matters.

This message has been shared by the Richmond School District. If you have any questions, please contact: questions@sd38.bc.ca