Chisholm Academy Celebrates Orange Shirt Day 2023

Chisholm Academy students and staff dressed in orange colours and participated in learning moments to mark the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Friday, September 29. The Equity and Drama Clubs organized events for Orange Shirt Day that dovetails with this national statutory day, marked on September 30 (a Saturday this year). In Canada, more than 150,000 indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and placed in residential schools run by religious organizations with the backing of the government. The aim of these schools was to strip indigenous children of their language, dress and other cultural aspects.

During our afternoon classes, Chisholm students viewed a presentation including facts and videos on reconciliation, survivors’ journeys, the Doctrine of Discovery and more. Afterwards, students were given paper orange shirts and wrote messages of support; the shirts will be displayed in the school. Students and staff met on the back field for brief remarks and an important moment of silence to remember the indigenous children and families affected. The Drama Club, led by Mrs. Moss and Ms. Edwards, led a student Drum Circle to pay tribute to our indigenous Canadians. Students then returned to class for discussion and reflection.

Mr. Tollefsrud and Ms. Edwards
Equity Club Teachers