In September, school communities in the Louis Riel School Division (LRSD) organized various activities to commemorate Orange Shirt Day, including assemblies, community walks, and art projects. These activities aimed to raise awareness about the history and tragic legacy of residential schools and to promote reconciliation.  

• Educational Initiatives: Teachers incorporated lessons about Truth and Reconciliation into their classrooms, using literature, videos, and discussion. Through various activities, students learned about the significance of Orange Shirt Day, residential schools, and Indigenous cultures. At Darwin School, students explored the memoir Fatty Legs, while students at Victor H.L. Wyatt read My Powerful Hair. École George-McDowell screened the film It Had to be Done from the National Film Board. Teachers at General Vanier incorporated their learning from the Treaty Education Professional Development Day into their discussions with students.
• Community Engagement: Schools involved the community in their Orange Shirt Day events. They invited parents/guardians, grandparents, Indigenous leaders, and community members to take part in activities such as cleanses, feasts, and educational sessions to foster a sense of solidarity and shared commitment to reconciliation. Schools like École Provencher and Marion School embraced this approach, inviting Indigenous leaders, family members, and the community to join in reflection activities and feasts.
• Creative Projects: Students took part in creative projects to express their understanding of Truth and Reconciliation and contribute to collective artistic displays of support for Indigenous communities. École George-McDowell created Métis dot art. Glenlawn Collegiate produced a video that was shared with every class. Highbury crafted a chain of orange kindness strips. And Lavallee School’s Leading Thunderbird Singers performed at school assemblies.
• Ongoing Commitment: Schools emphasized that the work of Truth and Reconciliation is ongoing and extends beyond Orange Shirt Day. Hastings School, École Marie-Anne-Gaboury, and Nelson McIntyre Collegiate have created Truth and Reconciliation Gardens that serve as long-term symbols of reflection and learning, emphasizing the importance of remembering the past while working toward a more just future.

We are committed to continuing our journey of Truth and Reconciliation throughout the year — to learn about and from Indigenous communities and to promote understanding and healing.