National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)

September 24, 2025

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, an observance that honours the survivors of residential schools and remembers those who did not return home. Known as Orange Shirt Day, this day draws its name from the story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, whose orange shirt—a gift from her grandmother—was confiscated on her first day at a residential school in 1973.

In 2021, the federal government declared September 30 a statutory holiday. However, beyond federally regulated workers, the application of the holiday is uneven across the country. This is unsatisfactory and goes against the spirit of the day, which is for individuals to recognize and reflect on the atrocities committed at residential schools and to amplify the message that Every Child Matters.

To this end, Unifor encourages member locals outside the federal sector to ensure that statutory treatment of September 30 is part of the bargaining agenda for your next round of collective bargaining, especially in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador where provincial governments have taken no action for workers in the private sector.

Members are strongly encouraged to use September 30 as intended: an opportunity to participate in events in your community to take action for reconciliation. Below is a non-exhaustive list of events across the country, however if you don’t see something near you, consider inquiring at your nearest First Nation or friendship centre. Unifor has commissioned artwork by Indigenous artist Christina Dumas for 2025 to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Feel free to share in your networks.

As with all of Unifor’s equity campaigns, affecting change is a year-round undertaking. You play a central role in Unifor’s Truth & Reconciliation work.

Whichever action you take, please share your work with the national office (communications@unifor.org) and on social media (hashtag #NDTR) so others can follow our example to do their part to demonstrate support for reconciliation.