Honour the experiences of residential school survivors at a University-wide event to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. Students, librarians, faculty members, and staff can register to attend this event in person or watch the live stream.
The commemoration will feature Carey Newman, whose traditional name is Hayalthkin’geme. Newman is a multi-disciplinary artist, carver, filmmaker, author, and public speaker.
Orange Shirt Day has been observed on September 30th annually for several years. In June 2021, the Federal Government passed legislation formally recognizing September 30th as the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation.
The commemoration is hosted by the UTM, UTSC and institutional Offices of Indigenous Initiatives, First Nations House Indigenous Student Services, and Hart House, in the Great Hall at Hart House (7 Hart House Circle, Toronto) on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Registration
Agenda
Commemoration
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
The Great Hall
1st Floor, Hart House
7 Hart House Circle
9:30 a.m. | Registration Opens
Light refreshments available in the Lower Gallery.
10:00 a.m. | Commemoration
Welcome
David Kim, Warden, Hart House
Remarks
Melanie A. Woodin, President, University of Toronto
Remarks
Linda Johnston, Vice-President, University of Toronto, and Principal, University of Toronto Scarborough
Keynote Address: Reactive to Resurgent – My Journey of Making Art About Colonialism
Carey Newman, Artist and Master Carver, Impact Chair in Indigenous Art Practices, University of Victoria
Audience Q & A with Carey Newman
Closing Remarks
David Kim, Warden, Hart House
11:30 a.m. | Commemoration Concludes
Overflow seating will be available in the East Common Room (ECR), on the 1st floor of Hart House.
Other ways to participate
Ceremonial Fire
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Ziibiing
1 Hart House Circle
10:00 a.m. | Fire Commences
First Nations House Indigenous Student Services will be supporting the commemoration at Hart House by hosting a ceremonial fire at Ziibiing.
Indigenous U of T Firekeeper trainee students will be on site to tend to the fire. Tobacco, Sage, Sweetgrass, Cedar, and smudge bowls will be available on site.
Indigenous students, staff, librarians, faculty members and Indigenous community members are welcome to join the fire and hold space for one another.
Limited seating will be available.
12:30 p.m. | Fire Concludes
Wear an Orange Shirt Day Shirt
All members of the U of T community are encouraged to wear an orange shirt on September 30 in the spirit of reconciliation. Doing so affirms that “Every Child Matters.” You can wear any orange shirt to show your solidarity.
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 the University of Toronto Mississauga. Their design, titled noojimo’iwe, emphasizes the importance of healing the intergenerational trauma of residential schooling by supporting and loving those around you. It portrays a mother holding hands and walking forward with her two children. Above them is a bright sun with contour lines connecting to a floral pattern and designs representing all living things.
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.
Participate Virtually in Orange Shirt Day
We also encourage all U of T community members to use the Orange Shirt Day virtual background and profile icon, featuring MJ Singleton’s design, the week of September 22-30.
Speakers’ Biographies
Carey Newman
Carey Newman, whose traditional name is Hayalthkin’geme, is a multi-disciplinary artist, carver, filmmaker, author and public speaker. Through his father, he is Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw from the Kukwaḵ̓a̱m, Gix̱sa̱m, and Wawałaba’yi clans of northern Vancouver Island, and Coast Salish from Xwchíyò:m (Cheam) of the Stó:lō S’olh Temexw (traditional territories) along the upper Fraser Valley. On his mother’s side of the family, his ancestors are English, Irish, and Scottish Settlers. In his artistic practice he strives to highlight Indigenous, social, and environmental issues as he examines the impacts of colonialism and capitalism, harnessing the power of material truth to unearth memory and trigger the necessary emotion to drive positive change. He is also interested in engaging with community and incorporating innovative methods derived from traditional teachings and Indigenous worldviews into his process.
Highlights from his career include being selected as the master carver of the Cowichan 2008 Spirit Pole, a journey that saw him travel the province of BC sharing the experience of carving a 20’ totem with over 11,000 people; a major commission entitled “Dancing Wind” installed at the 2010 Olympic Games, Athletes Village in Whistler; premiering the documentary he wrote and co-directed at the Vancouver International Film Festival as well as publishing his first book. He also continues to create for and consult with corporations, government agencies, collectors and museums around the world.
Perhaps his most influential work, “The Witness Blanket,” made of items collected from residential schools, government buildings and churches across Canada, deals with the subject of Truth and Reconciliation. It is now part of the collection at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Carey was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2017, was named to the Order of British Columbia in 2018, and is the inaugural Impact Chair in Indigenous Art Practices at the University of Victoria. In June of 2023 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws, honoris causa, by Royal Roads University.
Accessibility
Hart House has published details on accessing the space.
If you require additional accessibility accommodation(s), contact people.events@utoronto.ca, and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements.
Parking Information
Please refer to the Interactive Parking Map from Transportation Services to locate parking lots and rates throughout the St. George campus.
Unfortunately, there are no areas that allow for free parking on campus.
If you plan to park on campus for the event, we recommend using the Landmark Parking Garage (35 Hart House Circle, Toronto).
The Story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad
Orange Shirt Day is based on the story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, who in 1973, entered the St. Joseph Mission Residential School at the age of six. She was stripped of the orange shirt she was wearing and forced to wear the institutional uniform.
September 30 was chosen to mark the date when trucks and buses would arrive in communities to take children to residential schools. These schools operated in Canada between 1831 and 1996.
Additional Links
- The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) is a provincial organization that provides essential services to residential school survivors and families experiencing intergenerational trauma.
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) is a place of learning and dialogue where the truths of the residential school experience will be honoured and kept safe for future generations.
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Further Information
Please contact the People Strategy, Equity & Culture Events Team for additional information.
Event Partners
The commemoration is presented in partnership with:
- The Office of Indigenous Initiatives,
- Hart House, and
- First Nations House Indigenous Student Services.
