You’ll be seeing lots of orange over the next two days as the community honours those who made it home from Canada’s residential schools and those who didn’t. 

An estimated 150K children were forced to attend 139 federally run residential schools from the time they first opened in 1831 until the last one closed in 1997. Officially, 4,117 children are confirmed to have died in these schools, although due to incomplete or destroyed records, it’s widely believed that the number is much higher.

Wednesday, Sept. 30, is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a statutory holiday to allow Canadians a moment to honour the strength, dignity and advocacy of survivors—and intergenerational survivors—of Canada’s colonialist past.

The 5th annual South Island Powwow anchors and highlights Wednesday's event listings. Thousands will flock to Royal Athletic Park for the free, all-day celebration of resiliency. The gates open at 10am and will remain open until 7pm, with Grand Entries at noon. 

‍Orange Shirt Day events on Tuesday include campus-wide happenings at UVic, Royal Roads and Camosun. All three schools will be closed Tuesday for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation statutory holiday. Flags will be lowered to half-mast in honour of the many who suffered and continue to suffer.

Events on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026

‍The Royal BC Museum: 10am-4pm. A day filled with events for reflecting, truth-telling, dancing and celebrating.

‍Camosun Orange Shirt Day: 1-3pm at Na’tsa’maht on the Lansdowne campus.

‍UVic Orange Shirt Day Gathering: 1:30-2:45pm at Centennial Stadium.  

‍Royal Roads National Day for Truth and Reconciliation & Orange Shirt Day: 12pm-2pm at the John Horgan Indigenous People’s Centre. 

‍Events on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026

‍2026 Reconciliation Day Ride: 8:30am-11am. The 6th annual ride is approximately 9.2 km. It starts at Songhees Park by the Delta Hotel and is suitable for all cyclists.

‍South Island Powwow: 10am-7pm. Grand Entry at 12pm. An opportunity to recognize Survivors and their families in a show of solidarity and understanding at Royal Athletic Park.

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria: 12-5pm. The AGGV in Rockland offers free admission, including to the exhibition As Waters Merge. 

‍A Gathering of Remembrance and Care: 5-8pm. Presented by the Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Colour at SNIWWOC offices.  

‍Navigating a Path Forward with Truth as Inspiration: 7pm. A conversation with curator Monique Gray Smith and CBC host of The Next Chapter, Shelagh Rogers, at the Victoria Event Centre.

‍Rhymes for Reconciliation by the Vic City Soldiers: 7-11pm. Indigenous Hip-Hop artists perform at Lucky Bar.