Orange Shirt Day grew out of the story of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc grandmother who attended a residential school in British Columbia in the 1970s. On her first day of school, six-year-old Phyllis proudly wore a bright shiny orange shirt given to her by her grandmother. When she arrived, the shirt was taken away from her and never returned, leaving her feeling unseen and unvalued.
Today, wearing an orange shirt symbolizes our collective commitment to ensuring that Every Child Matters. It serves as a visual reminder of our responsibility to foster empathy, respect, and inclusion for all children every single day.
