Orange Shirt Day is held annually on September 30 to honour, acknowledge and remember those who have been affected by Residential Schools. Since campus is closed on September 30 and we cannot all be together, library employees will wear orange shirts in recognition of this important day on September 29 instead.
Orange Shirt Day facilitates global conversation and meaningful discussion about the legacy and impacts of Residential Schools in Canada. We call upon our campus to listen with open ears to the stories of Survivors and their families, and to remember those who are not with us today.
We, in the UBCO Library, wear our orange shirts to signify that we stand in solidarity with Survivors and those who have been affected by the harmful legacy of Residential Schools in Canada. We continue to create space amongst our team to learn and acknowledge the ongoing legacy and trauma of Residential Schools. The Library is committed to implementing the Indigenous Strategic Plan. Our work on this plan and other reconciliation work can be explored on the UBCO Library’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion page.
What is the Library doing beyond Orange Shirt Day?
The UBCO Library assembled the Indigenous Strategic Plan (ISP) Working Group in the winter of 2020. The ISP Implementation Subcommittee has been working to implement UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan and more largely the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action. The ISP Implementation Subcommittee is committed to the important and long-term work of reconciliation. Visit the EDI LibGuide to learn more about the subcommittee and explore related resources, such as this book list for Orange Shirt Day.