We honour and remember all the children taken from their families and forced to attend residential school. We honour the survivors, and those who did not make it home from residential school, as well as their families.
Dancer Keisha Jones performed at Centennial Square during Xe xe Smun' eem - Victoria Orange Shirt Day ceremony. Photo: Zoë Ducklow
List of Events on September 30th, 2026
5th Annual South Island Powwow
(free and open to everyone)
Royal Athletic Park, 1014 Caledonia Ave.
Gates open at 10am, Grand Entry 12pm
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Open House:
Offering free admission to the gallery and the exhibition As waters merge– swaying waves beckoning us closer, inviting community members to engage in personal reflection and education regarding the residential school system.
1040 Moss St, Victoria, BC., 12-5pm
Truth & Reconciliation: A MMIWG Gathering of Remembrance & Care
(free and open to everyone)
#204-990 Hillside Ave, 5-8pm
University of Victoria (UVIC) Campus Gathering:
A campus-wide shared space for reflection, learning, and remembrance ahead of the statutory holiday closure. Free and open to everyone.
3800 Finnerty Rd, 1:30-2:45pm
September 30th, 2026 is the 6th Nationally recognized Truth and Reconciliation Day, but this date has been acknowledged as Orange Shirt Day since 2013 when it was established by Residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad.
You can read Phyllis’s story in her own words.
This year also marks the 11th year anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Report and its 94 Calls to Action. Click here to learn more about where we are along this journey. This milestone invites us to reflect on progress made and the ongoing work needed.
WIN’s Cook, Pandora, and Westside locations will be open on September 30th from 12-5, and we are inviting people to donate at the till in support of bursaries for Indigenous social work students at UVIC. All proceeds from the sale of orange shirts and Indigenous Language Posters are also going towards this bursary.
Indigenous Community Members will receive 25% off from September 27th to October 4th.
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Victoria Foundation: 5 amazing Indigenous-led organizations making a difference
National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Final Reportspart 1a, part 1b
NWAC’s Action Plan to End the Attack Against Indigenous Women, Girls, This is a great resource for learning about local communities, Indigenous pronunciation of words, and more.
First Voices - Language learning
Free E-Books on Indigenous Reconciliation
Megaphone Magazine article - From Acknowledging to Honouring
What You Can Do as a Settler Canadian on National Truth and Reconciliation Day
Multiple resources for Indigenous Perspectives education via the Canadian Encyclopedia
Circles for Reconciliation - to establish trusting, meaningful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples as part of the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
IndigiNews (@indiginews) on Facebook and Instagram
Indigenous Perspectives Society- Local society providing cultural perspectives, Indigenous history, and reconciliation training
Article- ‘You belong in this world’: Two-Spirit survivors share their stories
Article- Meet the two-spirit people fighting to be included in Canada’s reconciliation process
Reproduce Her Justice Podcast-Ep 1: Discussing The Impact of Residential School