In recognition of the history and legacy of residential schools in Canada, the federal government passed legislation designating September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
The college also recognizes the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s (NCTR) Truth and Reconciliation Week, which runs from September 23 – 27, 2024, this year. During this week, Loyalist College will memorialize the lives of the lost children by hosting events and providing resources about the legacy of Canada’s Indian Residential School System, decolonization and the inception of Orange Shirt Day itself.
Loyalist encourages all students, faculty and staff to participate in these events and join the conversation. Learning and commemorating the truth of our history from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit knowledge keepers is an important part of the reconciliation process.
Please check back to this page for a detailed Truth and Reconciliation Week schedule.
We invite you to review the resources below.
Orange Shirt Day
The National Orange Shirt campaign – Every Child Matters – acknowledges the experiences of the former students of the Indian Residential Schools and is an ongoing commitment to reconciliation. In September 2014, the Assembly of First Nations asked all Canadians to join First Nations in wearing an orange shirt in the spirit of healing and reconciliation. The date Sept. 30 was chosen because it is the time of year when Indigenous children were taken away from their homes and placed in residential schools.
Loyalist College faculty, staff and students are encouraged to wear orange throughout the week in honour of the children of the Indian Residential School System. Learn more about the origins of Orange Shirt Day.
Acknowledging Truth and Reconciliation
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission – Calls to Action
- The White Paper, 1969
- Indian Control of Indian Education, 1972
Decolonization: The first steps toward reconciliation
100 Ways to Indigenize and Decolonize Academic Programs and Courses, University of Regina
Documentary: Doctrine of Discovery
Remembering the children
Loyalist College remembers the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
The list below shows the number of unmarked graves found at former residential school grave sites across Canada to date. The search continues.
| Location | Institution | Number of Unmarked Graves |
| Battleford, SK | Battleford Industrial School | 74 |
| Brantford in Six Nations, ON | Mohawk Institute Residential School | 6 |
| Fort Providence, NWT | Sacred Heart Mission School | 161 |
| High River, AB | Dunbrow Industrial School | 34 |
| Saddle Lake Cree Nation, AB | Blue Quills Indian Residential School | 19 |
| Regina, SK | Regina Indian Industrial School | 38 |
| Lestock/Muskowekan First Nation, SK | Musowequan Indian Residential School | 35 |
| Kamloops, BC | Kamloops Indian Residential School | 215 |
| Brandon, MB | Brandon Indian Residential School | 104 |
| Marieval, SK | Catholic church cemetery near Marieval Indian Residential School | 751 |
| Cranbrook/Ktunaxa First Nation, BC | St. Eugene Hospital new Kooetnay Island Residential School | 182 |
| Kuper Island/Penekalut Island, BC | Kuper Island Indian Residential School | 160 |
| Delmas, SK | Thunderchild Residential School | 44 |
| Williams Lake, BC | St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School | 159 |
| Kamsack, SK | St. Philip’s Indian Residential School | 12 |
| Fort Pelly, SK | Fort Pelly Residential School | 42 |
| Grouard, AB | Grouard (St. Bernard’s) Residential School | 54 |
| Grouard, AB | Community cemetery near Grouard (St. Bernard’s) Residential School | 115 |
| Punnichy, SK | George Gordon Indian Residential School | 14 |
| Sandy Bay, MB | Sandy Bay Indian Residential School | 13 |
| Kenora, ON | St. Mary’s Indian Residential School | 171 |
| Port Alberni, BC | Alberni Indian Residential School | 17 |
| Sechelt, BC | St. Augustine’s Indian Residential School | 40 |
| Joussard, AB | St. Bruno’s Indian Residential School | 88 |
Honouring the children
Residential School Timeline
Map of Residential Schools in Canada