As the University of Toronto community prepares to mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Survivors’ Flag, which honours Indigenous lives and communities impacted by the residential school system in Canada, was raised on each of its three campuses.
The Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE), in partnership with First Nations House and the U of T Office of Indigenous Initiatives, raised the Survivors’ Flag on the St. George campus at Varsity Stadium on September 20. The flag will be lowered to half-mast on September 30 when the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is formally recognized across Canada.
“Raising the Survivors’ Flag is a reaffirmation of our steadfast support and solidarity with Indigenous communities,” said Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education.
“Confronting the history and legacy of Canada’s residential school system is vital to advancing the process of reconciliation.”
Kerr also invited settlers to reflect on what they can do to strengthen relationships with Indigenous Peoples to build a better future together, encouraging students, staff and faculty members at KPE to reflect on their own efforts towards reconciliation and to attend Truth and Reconciliation events where possible.
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 Melanie A. Woodin, president of U of T, and Linda Johnston, vice-president of U of T and principal of U of T Scarborough, with a keynote address by Carey Newman, multi-disciplinary artist, carver, filmmaker, author and public speaker.
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 2025 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 student from Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation who is studying at U of T Mississauga. 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.
