National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) 2026
Wear orange on September 30 for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. The date honours Survivors of Canada’s residential school system, the children who never returned home, and the families and communities still living with that legacy — with the public reminder that Every Child Matters.
About National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)
History & origins
September 30 carries two linked observances. Orange Shirt Day began as a grassroots commemorative day in 2013 after Northern Secwépemc (Shuswap) Survivor Phyllis Webstad shared her story at an event in Williams Lake, British Columbia. As a child in 1973, she arrived at residential school in a new orange shirt her grandmother had bought; the shirt was taken from her on the first day. That story became a widely recognized symbol of the loss of culture, freedom, and identity many Indigenous children experienced. The Orange Shirt Society, co-founded by Webstad and others, continues public education under the message Every Child Matters.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a federal statutory holiday on the same date, created in 2021 when Parliament passed Bill C-5. It responds to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), which ran from 2008 to 2015 and issued 94 Calls to Action. The federal day did not replace Orange Shirt Day; the two are observed together on September 30.
Several provinces and territories also recognize the date as a statutory holiday; others treat it as a commemorative day without a provincial day off. Always check local rules.
Why it matters
Public commemoration is part of reconciliation: the day asks Canadians to learn the history of residential schools, listen to Survivors, and support ongoing education rather than treat the past as closed. It is deliberately not a celebration or a party date.
How to celebrate
Wear an orange shirt if you can, especially one that centres the Every Child Matters message associated with Orange Shirt Day. Attend a local memorial, school event, or Survivor-led gathering when invited. Read TRC materials or Survivor histories from reputable sources. Support Indigenous-led education and community organizations. Teach children age-appropriate facts about residential schools. Quiet learning and respectful presence matter more than performative posts.
Facts
- Phyllis Webstad’s orange shirt story from her first day at residential school in 1973 inspired Orange Shirt Day
- Orange Shirt Day began as a grassroots observance in 2013; the Orange Shirt Society advances related education
- The TRC (2008–2015) issued 94 Calls to Action; Call to Action 80 sought a federal commemorative holiday
- Parliament created the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a federal statutory holiday in 2021 (Bill C-5)
- Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation are both observed on September 30
Upcoming dates
- Wednesday, September 30, 2026
- Thursday, September 30, 2027
- Saturday, September 30, 2028
- Sunday, September 30, 2029
- Monday, September 30, 2030
Frequently asked questions
When is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) in 2026?
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) in 2026 falls on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Is today National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)?
No. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) in 2026 falls on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, not today.
What is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?
It is a Canadian federal statutory holiday on September 30 to honour residential school Survivors, the children who never came home, and affected families and communities. It is observed alongside Orange Shirt Day.
Who started Orange Shirt Day?
Orange Shirt Day grew from Phyllis Webstad’s account of her orange shirt being taken at residential school, shared publicly in 2013, and from community organizers including what became the Orange Shirt Society. The federal statutory holiday followed in 2021 in response to TRC Call to Action 80.
How should you observe the day?
Wear orange, learn from Survivor and TRC resources, attend respectful local events when welcome, and support Indigenous-led education. It is a day of remembrance and learning, not a festival.
Is it an official holiday?
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a federal statutory holiday (and a statutory holiday in some provinces and territories). Orange Shirt Day is the grassroots commemorative movement on the same date. Provincial day-off rules vary.
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