On September 30, 2025, members of the UBC Vancouver campus community gathered for the annual Intergenerational March to commemorate Orange Shirt Day, a powerful event organized by the UBC Faculty of Forestry and the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. This walk offered space for reflection, education, and solidarity; bringing together students, faculty, staff, and community members in a shared commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.
Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, a time to honour Survivors and Intergenerational Survivors of the Indian Residential School system and to remember the children who never returned home. It is a solemn reminder of Canada’s colonial legacy and the ongoing need for reconciliation with Indigenous communities.
As we continue to confront this history and its lasting impacts, the UBC community is encouraged to take action, engage in learning, and support Indigenous voices through the following initiatives.
Ways to engage and learn:
- Register for free online course on reconciliation
Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education | Faculty of Education (open to students, staff, and faculty). - Explore and share Indigenous stories
Access a wide range of educational materials and Indigenous perspectives through curated UBC resources. - Visit Orange Shirt Day Resource Hub
See the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre’s hub page for events, educational tools, and wellness supports. - Show your support visibly
Wear orange at the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) to demonstrate your commitment to remembrance and reconciliation. - Support Indigenous health initiatives
Learn more through the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health and discover ways to support Indigenous health and wellbeing.
As we work toward a more just and equitable campus, it is important to acknowledge UBC’s colonial foundations and the role each of us plays in challenging systems of oppression in our academic and social spaces.
While the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation may carry different meanings for each of us, we can all unite around the values of listening, learning, and amplifying Indigenous voices—not just today, but every day.
Every child matters.
All photos courtesy of UBC.