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Throughout the month of September and into October, the Queen’s University community will have opportunities to observe the , with various events taking place across campus.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, observed annually on September 30, honors the history and profound impact of residential schools on Indigenous peoples and communities. Residential schools were established in 1831, with the last closing in 1996. On September 30, 2025, all academic activities at Queen’s will be suspended to allow staff, students, and faculty to recognize this important day. Community members are encouraged to participate in events related to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, acknowledging the role every person plays in reconciliation, and the lingering impact felt by Indigenous Peoples.

The , hosted by Union Gallery and in partnership with the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, will take place September 2 through October 11. The exhibition is an opportunity to promote local Indigenous artists and showcase their unique, creative work. Union Gallery, located on the first floor of Stauffer Library at 101 Union Street, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am-4:30 pm, and is closed on Mondays and Sundays.

Once again, orange t-shirts will be made available to purchase beginning September 23 inside the Queen’s Centre Atrium. The shirts, originally commissioned by the Queen’s NDTR Working Group in 2023, feature a design of children’s moccasins framed by woodland forget-me-not flowers, created by Cree artist Jaylene Cardinal. Sales will take place on multiple days inside the Queen’s Centre Atrium (September 23-25 and 29) leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Additional t-shirts will be sold on the afternoon of September 30 at Agnes Benidickson Field. Pricing is on a sliding scale from $5 to $20, with an option to “pay it forward” by purchasing a shirt for someone else. Payments can be made by card only.

All proceeds from t-shirt sales will support the Kahwá:tsire Indigenous-Led Child and Family Programs in Tyendinaga.
 

T-Shirt Distribution Schedule

• Tuesday, September 23, 12-3 pm, Queen’s Centre Atrium, 284 Earl Street  
• Wednesday, September 24, 12-3 pm, Queen’s Centre Atrium, 284 Earl Street  
• Thursday, September 25, 12-3 pm, Queen’s Centre Atrium, 284 Earl Street  
• Monday, September 29, 12-3 pm, Queen’s Centre Atrium, 284 Earl Street  
• Tuesday, September 30, 12-1 pm, Agnes Benidickson Field (ahead of Sacred Fire)
   

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was born out of Orange Shirt Day, which originated from a 2013 reunion of former St. Joseph Mission Residential School students in British Columbia. Phyllis Webstad, a former student from Williams Lake, B.C., shared her story of arriving at the residential school in 1973 wearing a new orange shirt bought by her grandmother. The shirt was taken away on her very first day at the residential school and never seen again. To recognize that moment, the colour orange has become a staple in observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Additionally, students, staff, and faculty on the Kingston campus are encouraged to visit an educational exhibit featuring Indigenous authors, to be displayed from mid-September until October 12. Once prepared, the exhibit will be found inside the Mackintosh-Corry Hall display case near the cafeteria.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be recognized with a Sacred Fire ceremony on September 30 at Agnes Benidickson Field. Attendees should arrive by  1:15 pm with speeches beginning at 1:30 pm. Open to all members of the Queen’s community, the Sacred Fire offers a time for collective reflection on the historic harms caused by the residential school system and is a reminder of the shared responsibility to advance truth and reconciliation at Queen’s and across Canada.

In 2024, staff from the Office of Indigenous Initiatives permanently raised the Survivors’ Flag, adjacent to the Indigenous Past and Futures at Queen’s plinth between Douglas Library and Ontario Hall. The flag is in place year-round, symbolizing ongoing commitment to honoring residential school survivors and recognizing truth and reconciliation as a continuous process. Community members are encouraged to visit the flag independently to reflect on their role in truth and reconciliation.

Visit the Office of Indigenous Initiatives Truth and Reconciliation page for additional events across campus. Visit regularly as the Events and Initiatives section will be updated often.