GMHA Recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation &
Orange Shirt Day
Each year, September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt
Day
The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as
well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history
and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to
raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential
schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of
the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over
generations.
On September 30, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange to honour the thousands of
Survivors of residential schools.
For GMHA teams playing on September 30, we encourage
players to use orange tape on their sticks.