09/28/2026
National Truth and Reconciliation Sunday/Orange Shirt Day
We will be remembering the countless Indigenous children who never came home from
Canada’s Indian Residential Schools and will also honour the survivors who did, their
families and communities.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day occur together. Orange
Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of
the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to
promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping
away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over
generations. As a way to acknowledge our nation’s need for reconciliation with Indigenous
peoples, we encourage you to wear orange.
Our speaker this year is Jennifer Sharrif, an Indigenous person with Cherokee heritage.
Jennifer works with the Mission and Maple Ridge School District and the Squamish band.
Jennifer has attended meetings at our church before.