Orange Shirt Day & National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Events 2025

Tuesday, September 30, 9:30am-12pm, 5200 Matchette Rd, Windsor, ON

Join in an honour walk, to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Feel free to bring personal drums and shakers and join in. After the walk, enjoy a drum group and a light community breakfast.  

Organized by the Orange Shirt Day Committee.

Tuesday, September 30, 10am – 5pm, 401 Riverside Dr. W, Windsor  

Enjoy free admission to the Chimczuk Museum & Art Windsor Essex in honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is an opportunity to visit the Original Peoples Culture and Legacy Gallery located inside the Chimczuk Museum and learn about local Indigenous history.  

Museum Windsor, 401 Riverside Dr. W, Windsor, main floor galleries

Travelling from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, The Witness Blanket is a powerful art installation created by master carver Carey Newman to recognize the atrocities of the residential school era, honour the children and symbolize ongoing reconciliation. Inspired by a woven blanket, this cedar-framed replica artwork features hundreds of items from Indian residential schools, survivors, churches, governments, and other cultural sites across Canada. Each item tells a story of loss, strength, resilience, and pride. 

Photograph: Image of the travelling Witness Blanket, courtesy of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Art Windsor-Essex, 401 Riverside Dr. W, Windsor, third floor galleries 

Art Windsor-Essex partnered with the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board on a display of artworks made by students in Windsor-Essex. The hearts were coloured by students at WECDSB, displayed as blossoming flowers, representing our collective commitment to working together to achieve truth and reconciliation.  

Tuesday, September 30, 1pm, West Entrance, Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law

Join the Faculty of Law for their annual heart photo to be taken in front of the West Entrance of the Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law building. Participants are asked to wear their orange shirts for this group photo.  

Saturday, September 27, 12pm, King’s Navy Yard Park (268 Dalhousie St, Amherstburg, ON)

Together as a community we are on this journey of reconciliation. The truths of families and survivors of Canadian residential schools have left permanent scars on communities and our nation.

In the spirit of healing and reconciliation, we will gather by the gazebo in King’s Navy Yard Park Saturday, September 27, 2025. Join us and Ska:na Family Learning Centre to learn more about Indigenous culture, and watch demonstrations of dancing, drumming and storytelling.

Learn and listen from Elders and motivational speakers from the community. Children’s activities will take place at the teepee, and Indigenous vendors will be in the park selling products.

What’s happening at this year’s gathering starting at 12:00pm

• Opening welcome at the gazebo in King’s Navy Yard Park at 12:00pm
• Corn soup and bannock at Park House Museum
• Teachings at the Park House and a film screening upstairs
• River Bookshop featured books and art
• Orange cookies for sale at Caffeine and Co.
• Early ON – bracelet making activity and colouring near the teepee in King’s Navy Yard Park
• Drumming at the gazebo
• Vendors & more!

The “Every Child Matters” flag will fly outside City Hall from September 29 to October 1, 2025. City Hall will be illuminated orange in the evenings from September 29 to October 1, 2025.