Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters is a grassroots event that recognizes the survivors of residential schools – and acknowledges those who did not. The community is invited to and attend the free event, emceed by local artist Bear Horne who designed this year’s Orange Shirt Day T-shirt.
The event begins at noon, with a First Nations blessing and welcome at 1 p.m., followed by a flag raising in Centennial Square and speeches by Councillor Gary Sam of the Songhees Nation and Chief Andy Thomas of the Esquimalt Nation. Mayor Lisa Helps will be joined by Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands and Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Victoria and NDP House Leader Murray Rankin, Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad, and Kwantlen Nation musician and public speaker Luke Dandurand, who will share their journeys through reconciliation.
This event is open to everyone and free to attend. For more information, visit the event website.
When: Saturday, September 30th, 2017 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm PT
Where: Centennial Square, downtown Victoria, BC