Orange Shirt Day is a day to recognize and reflect on the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, honour Survivors and remember the children who never returned home.
The orange shirt became a symbol of remembrance for residential schools Survivors following the leadership of Phylis Webstad of the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, who shared her story of how her new orange shirt was taken away from her on her first day at St. Joseph Mission Residential School, leaving her with feelings of worthlessness and insignificance. As Indigenous children were taken from their families, homes and communities at the end of September, September 30th was chosen as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day.
In December 2023, Manitoba established Orange Shirt Day as a provincial statutory holiday, so that all Manitobans have the opportunity to reflect on the legacy of residential schools and the profound impacts of that trauma that still exists today. Establishing this statutory holiday directly responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 80.
The Government of Manitoba is once again supporting projects that will help bring more Manitobans together to mark Orange Shirt Day through the Orange Shirt Day Fund, which provides funding for projects and initiatives that create opportunities for Manitobans to come together in observation, reflection and commemoration.
Every Child Matters. Remember to wear orange wherever you are on September 30, in honour of residential school Survivors, their families and communities and those who never returned home.
Orange Shirt Day Fund
Fund Objectives
The Fund encourages Manitobans to reflect on the impacts of the Indian Residential School System. Proposals submitted to the Orange Shirt Day Fund must contribute to any of the following outcomes:
- Ensure that the legacy and impacts of the Indian Residential School system is not forgotten.
- Ensure that Survivors are recognized and honoured for their strength and resilience.
- Ensure that the children who never returned home from Indian Residential School are commemorated and memorialized so that their memory will continue to live on.
- Foster positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Manitobans.
- Support activities that align with The Path to Reconciliation Act, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and/or the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- Enhance understanding of the truth of the residential school system in Manitoba, and its intergenerational legacy.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply is 4:00 pm on June 16, 2025.
Applicants are reviewed on an ongoing basis, so consider applying early!
Grant Guideline
Before you apply, consult the Orange Shirt Day Fund Grant Guide:
Orange Shirt Day Funding Program – 2025 Grant Guide
Apply
Orange Shirt Day Funding Program – 2025 Grant Application
Questions or Assistance
If you have questions or require assistance, please contact:
Phone: 431-323-9122
Email: OrangeShirtDayFund@gov.mb.ca
Attn: Orange Shirt Day Fund 2025
