National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30th) honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. It was moving to see so many people wearing orange shirts, for September 30th is also Orange Shirt Day — an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day based on the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. On her first day of school, she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

Thank you to all Hospital staff, professional staff, volunteers and learners who participated by wearing orange shirts.

Special thanks also goes out to Elder Ernie Kwandibens, who guided the construction of the tipi, Elder Myria Esquega who led the ceremonial opening of the tipi, and Ryan Pooman, the artist who created the beautiful mural at the foot of the Grand Staircase.

We hope you were able to take a few moments to reflect on how people in our region have been, and continued to be, impacted.

On September 30, the Sodexo team at Flavours Cafeteria ( 8 team members pictured above) recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day by wearing orange shirts and providing a menu featuring traditional Indigenous foods.