Dear fellow Rotarians in District 7070,
Help us show alignment across Canada in support of Orange Shirt Day! Purchasing and wearing a HIP orange shirt on September 30th will reinforce the message that “Every Child Matters” while also raising funds that will be split between the Orange Shirt Society and HIP’s Literacy Program.....
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis' story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.
The date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year. It also gives teachers time to plan events that will include children, as we want to ensure that we are passing the story and learning on to the next generations.
Working in partnership with Goodminds.com, HIP has launched a literacy program. Funds raised are allocated upon request to Indigenous Education councillors for the purchase and distribution of culturally appropriate and language specific books for Indigenous youth grades K – 12.
Shirts cost $12 each. To order an orange shirts for yourself or your organization, please contact Julie at julie@eccgroup.ca.
Orders must be placed prior to August 15th to ensure arrival before September 30th
Yours In Rotary, With Warm Regards,
John Currie
Executive Director - Honouring Indigenous Peoples (HIP)
Cultural Advisor - City of Pickering
Education Services Director - Rotary Club of Pickering
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