DC Recognizes Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Durham College (DC) recognizes the 10^th anniversary of Orange Shirt Day and the third National Day for Truth and Reconciliation through remembrance, reflection and action around the history and impact of residential schools on First Nations, Inuit and Métis families and communities.

“As an organization, DC is committed to reconciliation, with the goal of building respectful, reciprocal relationships that contribute to better educational outcomes for all students,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “And, as an education institution, we are committed to providing space for meaningful conversations and reflection on the impacts of residential schools and their legacy as well as sharing resources for our DC community to learn more about the history of Indigenous Peoples, and ways to take meaningful steps towards reconciliation.”

Together with Ontario Tech University, Durham College is hosting Recognizing Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, in The Rotary Global Classroom on September 29. Employees and students were invited to participate and hear from speakers Kevin Lamoureux, award-winning scholar from the University of Winnipeg; Elder Dorothy Taylor, a Mississauga Ojibwe Elder from Curve Lake First Nation; and Elder Dr. Shirley Williams, who is Midewiwin and a member of the Bird Clan from the Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island.

In recognition of this important day, today, the Every Child Matters flag has been raised to honour children who attended residential schools. Tomorrow, the flags at the Whitby and Oshawa campuses will be lowered to half-mast and, at sundown, the DC sign and Connect sculpture at the bus loop at the Oshawa campus, and the atrium at the Whitby campus main building, will be illuminated orange.