September 30 – Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led awareness day meant to remember and honour the children who never returned home, the survivors of residential schools, and their families, who continue to struggle with the ongoing effects of intergenerational traumas.

Originally introduced in Williams Lake in 2013, Orange Shirt Day was inspired by the lived experience of Phyllis Webstad, a BC First Nations author, activist and residential school survivor. She recounts being stripped of her clothes on her first day of school, including a brand-new orange coloured shirt her grandmother had bought for her that was never returned.

September 30 also signifies the time of year when Indigenous children were historically taken from their homes and sent to residential schools. For this reason, the official tagline of Orange Shirt Day is "Every Child Matters".

September 30 is also the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. A federal statutory holiday since 2021, it is one element of a much broader reconciliation process that asks Canadians across the country to pause and reflect on the damaging and lasting impacts of the Indian residential school system on Indigenous peoples.

With all of this in mind, it's a good time for experienced tradespeople and industry leaders in related trades to consider becoming more vocal advocates for systemic changes that lead to healthier workplaces. Those seeking to enhance their knowledge and awareness of Reconciliation may be interested in Royal Roads University's highly regarded Truth and Reconciliation at Work micro-credential program.

This online program is a thoughtfully curated series of online course offerings with flexible learning options. It provides those enrolled with a deep dive into the historic and present conditions faced by Indigenous peoples, the dynamics of privilege and its impacts on systemic discrimination, and how to design and implement Truth and Reconciliation practices in the workplace. It's also eligible for the StrongerBC Future Skills Grant, which means that the provincial government may cover your tuition.

In the meantime, check out the TradeUpBC website often. It's a one-stop space for easy access to new courses and professional development programs offered by BC's post-secondary institutes.