Ahead of Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, the Survivors’ Flag was raised at Varsity Stadium. The flag honours Indigenous lives and communities impacted by the residential school system in Canada.
In partnership with First Nations House and the U of T Office of Indigenous Initiatives, the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) raised the Survivors’ Flag at Varsity Stadium on September 18. The flag will be lowered to half-mast on September 30 when the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is formally recognized across Canada.
“By raising the Survivors’ Flag, we remember the survivors of residential schools, along with their families and those who did not return home,” said Gretchen Kerr, professor and dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education.
“Publicly marking the legacy and lasting impacts of Canada’s residential school system is an important step on our collective path toward reconciliation.”
Kerr encouraged students, staff and faculty members at KPE to attend Truth and Reconciliation events where possible and reflect on their own efforts towards reconciliation. “A better future depends on settlers strengthening relationships with Indigenous Peoples and we all have a part to play,” Kerr said.
The U of T community is invited to honour the experiences of residential school survivors by joining a university-wide event being held in the Great Hall at Hart House (7 Hart House Circle, Toronto) on Tuesday, September 30, from 10 to 11:30 am.
The event will feature welcoming remarks from David Kim, warden of Hart House, followed by remarks by Alexandra Gillespie, vice-president of U of T and principal of U of T Mississauga. At the heart of the event is a panel discussion featuring Indigenous researchers with expertise in Indigenous language revitalization.
Participants will have the option to register to attend the event in person or register to watch the livestream on YouTube.
Other ways to participate include wearing an orange shirt, affirming that Every Child Matters.
In recognition of Orange Shirt Day 2026 and the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives has partnered with the U of T Bookstore on a limited supply of orange t-shirts. The shirts feature an award-winning design by MJ Singleton, an Ojibwe, two-spirit alumni from Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation. All proceeds from the sale of these shirts will be directed to the Orange Shirt Society—no proceeds will go to the U of T Bookstore or the University of Toronto.
Members of the U of T community are also encouraged to use the Orange Shirt Day virtual background and profile icon, featuring MJ Singleton's design, the week of September 22-30.
The day will also be commemorated with a ceremonial fire at Ziibiing. Indigenous community members, including students, staff and faculty are welcome to join the fire and hold space for one another.