City of Windsor Observes Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Published

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, which is the vision of Alkali Lake Chief Fred Robbins, who is himself a residential school survivor. It honours the story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, a former residential school student who, on her first day of residential school, had her bright new orange shirt taken away from her. The orange shirt was given to her by her grandmother.

The orange shirt has become a symbol of remembrance of all Indigenous children who were removed from their families to attend residential schools, where their language and culture were repressed, and many children experienced abuse. The painful legacy of residential schools has had long-lasting effects on residential school survivors and their families.

The day has also been designated National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action #80.

The Calls to Action offer important direction for all levels of government, institutions, and all Canadians to redress the legacy of residential schools and to advance reconciliation. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day of awareness as well as a day of remembrance for Indigenous people and a day of education for Canadians. It honours survivors, their families, and their communities, and it ensures that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.

At the Corporation of the City of Windsor

The City will encourage all municipal staff to use the week of September 28, and time leading up to that week, to focus on the importance of reconciliation and take steps to learn about and acknowledge the past through various opportunities for participation, including the following:

The “Every Child Matters” flag will fly outside 350 City Hall Square West from September 29 to October 1, 2026.
City Hall will be illuminated orange in the evenings from September 29 to October 1, 2026.
Staff will be encouraged to wear orange on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, to acknowledge the tragic legacy of residential schools, and to honour the victims, families, and intergenerational survivors.
City of Windsor administrative offices will be closed on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in observance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and some services may be altered or delayed (details coming later this week).
Staff will have an opportunity to participate in an Indigenous Awareness training session presented by Indigenous Corporate Training (ICT) on Monday, September 28, 2026, which aims to equip participants with essential knowledge and understanding to support Indigenous reconciliation.
Staff will also have access to various resources created by the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion.
Transit Windsor will begin tying orange ribbons to bus mirrors over the weekend so that all buses will have orange ribbons for September 30, 2026. On September 30, Transit Windsor will program the head signs on buses with #EveryChildMatters, will distribute orange ribbons for operators to wear, and will share audio messages on buses recognizing the day and the significance of the ribbons.

Museum Windsor – Chimczuk Museum, along with Art Windsor-Essex (AWE)

Museum Windsor’s Chimczuk Museum and Art Windsor-Essex (AWE) will be open and offering free admission on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The museum and gallery are located at 401 Riverside Drive West.

At the Chimczuk Museum, this is a great opportunity to visit the Original Peoples Culture and Legacy Gallery. At the north end of the main floor concourse, this space reflects the culture, heritage, and contemporary issues of the local First Nations and Métis communities. It also provides an open and flexible gathering space for programming. This exhibit was developed in consultation with Walpole Island Heritage Centre, Turtle Island-Aboriginal Education Centre at the University of Windsor, Caldwell First Nation, Can-Am Indian Friendship Centre, and other local community organizations. Features of the exhibition include Creation Stories, Treaties, Residential Schools and '60s Scoop, Language Revitalization, Missing and Murdered Women, Medicine Wheel Teachings, and Cultural Expressions.

Meanwhile, Art Windsor-Essex (AWE) offers Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events and programming on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the gallery, along with free admission from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Engagement opportunities include the community display “Memengwaa / Butterflies” in the third floor galleries in partnership with the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.

Windsor Public Library

In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, all branches of the Windsor Public Library will be closed on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Throughout September, however, the library remains committed to fostering awareness, education, and reflection on the history and ongoing impacts of the residential school system.

Displays featuring Indigenous authors, stories, and educational resources are available at library branches across the city and online through the library's Digital Branch page for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Staff have also prepared a special video presentation on Truth and Reconciliation, available on the library's YouTube channel.

Looking for something to read or listen to? Explore Indigenous topics in the library's Hoopla service, which offers a wide selection of Indigenous titles in both eBook and audiobook formats.

In-Branch Activities

Visit the Windsor Public Library Events Calendar to discover programs and activities happening at a branch near you. Featured events include:

Orange Shirt Day Buttons available at the Fontainebleau Branch
Truth and Reconciliation Take-and-Learn Kits available at the Local History Branch
Film Screening: Waapake
September 28, 2026, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., at the Local History Branch
Truth and Reconciliation Heart Garden
September 29, 2026, 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., at the Bridgeview Branch
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Film Screening
September 29, 2026, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., at the John Muir Branch

These activities represent just a few of the many ways Windsor Public Library is recognizing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We encourage community members to explore additional programs, resources, and learning opportunities by visiting their local branch, the library's website, or the Digital Branch online.

Ojibway Prairie Complex

The Ojibway Prairie Complex offers a peaceful backdrop for quiet reflection. Open and accessible to the public, the City encourages everyone to find time to visit these lands and the Ojibway Nature Centre at 5200 Matchett Road the week of September 28, 2026, and beyond. The Ojibway Prairie Complex is a collection of six closely situated natural areas within a 10-minute drive from downtown Windsor. The most striking aspect of the complex is the tremendous variety of vegetation and animal life. Wetlands, forest, savanna, and prairie provide habitat for a great number of rare plants, insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Visit www.Ojibway.ca for more information.

Honour Walk & Community Gathering at Jackson Park

A community-led Orange Shirt Day Committee will host an Honour Walk & Community Gathering on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Jackson Park, 125 Tecumseh Road East. Join in an honour walk to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. The gathering will feature speakers, fire, drums, food, and activities. All are welcome.

City of Windsor Land Acknowledgment:

The City of Windsor is situated on the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, which includes the Ojibwa, the Odawa, and the Potawatomie. The City of Windsor honours all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.

For more information on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, including additional resources and opportunities for engagement, please visit the Government of Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation web page.