Organizations and businesses prepare for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — also known as Orange Shirt Day in Manitoba — will hold even greater significance this year, as it is now recognized as a statutory holiday in the province.

Organizations and groups in Winnipeg are preparing for the momentous occasion with events planned for Monday, while local businesses selling orange shirts are considering how to meaningfully mark the day

Orange Shirt Day has been a statutory holiday for federal workers since 2021. Last year, the province passed legislation recognizing the day as a statutory holiday for all workers in Manitoba, to honour victims and survivors of the residential school system.

“It should be more than just a single day off, it should be a day that has some reflection and some growth, and some knowledge put into it,” said Kyle Mason, a Truth and Reconciliation advocate.

“Other provinces did it sooner, and proband should have been done sooner in Manitoba, but I’m glad it’s happening now.”

The day will be marked throughout Winnipeg, with Wa-Say Healing Centre holding their fourth Orange Shirt Day Healing walk starting at the Oodena Circle at The Forks, before they head to the RBC Convention Centre.

“This is probably going to be one of the biggest events that Winnipeg or Manitoba has seen in the city of Winnipeg,” said Wayne Mason, the executive director of Wa-Say Healing Centre.

He says their event almost didn’t happen, after they lost their funding in June, but says the province, city, and Indigenous organizations have stepped up to make this year’s Orange Shirt Day possible.

“This year were told to expect between 10,000 and 20,000 people, which is a testament to how important this event has gotten.”

Owner of Indigenous Nations Apparel Company, Michelle Cameron, has sold thousands of Orange Shirt day apparel over the years and is expecting to see numbers increased this year.

“I employ survivors and children of survivors and we don’t just come up with the design, we print it in our facility, ship it and support other companies that want to do bulk order for their organizations or corporations,” said Michelle Cameron, the owner of the Indigenous Nations Apparel Company.

Orange shirts will be seen across Winnipeg Monday, with events planned in all corners of the city, including at Assiniboine Park and Zoo, where they will be hosting a Sacred Fire in the Indigenous Peoples Garden at the Leaf.