Collingwood School will be holding our Orange Shirt Day event this Wednesday, October 1. Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis Webstad’s story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion going on all aspects of residential schools. It is a time for First Nations, local governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.  

At Collingwood, students are invited to wear an orange shirt to school this Wednesday as part of Orange Shirt Day. If children do not have an orange shirt, parents should not feel any pressure to go out and purchase one, as that is not the intent of this day. Teachers will take some time this week to discuss Orange Shirt Day, the importance of honoring each child and making everyone feel welcome at school.