About
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers to help you understand and participate.
General
The Orange Shirt Society does not sell shirts or merchandise directly. However, we have many official retailers and partners to choose from. Visit our Official Merchandise page for more info.
The Orange Shirt Society is a non-profit organization co-founded by residential school Survivor Phyllis Webstad. We are dedicated to educating the public about the legacy of Canada’s Indian residential school system, honouring the children who never came home, supporting Survivors and their families, and advancing truth & reconciliation through community programs, public education, and remembrance events.
The Orange Shirt Society is a registered not-for-profit society in British Columbia. As we are not a registered charity, we are unable to issue charitable tax receipts. However, our partner Vancity Community Foundation (VCF) can issue charitable tax receipts on our behalf. Please visit VCF to donate with a charitable tax receipt.
Every Child Matters began as part of Phyllis Webstad’s story, a reminder of the personal loss and systemic harm caused by Indian residential schools. Today, it stands as a call to honour all children, to remember those who were taken, those who did not return, and to commit to a future rooted in truth, care, and accountability. It reminds us that every child is sacred and deserves to feel seen, safe, and valued.
Orange Shirt Day – Every Child Matters was created in 2013 by Phyllis Webstad, and other founding members, after sharing her story of having her orange shirt taken away on her first day at residential school in 1973. The day was created as a way to open conversations about Indian residential schools and honour Survivors and their families. It has since grown into a national movement.
Orange Shirt Day is a grassroots movement co-founded by Phyllis Webstad and led by Indigenous voices. It centers truth-telling, community action, and Survivor-led remembrance.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established by the federal government in 2021 as a statutory holiday which was the implementation to the TRC Call to Action #80.
Orange Shirt Day – Every Child Matters: National Day for Truth & Reconciliation are observed on September 30. They are one. NDTR did not replace Orange Shirt Day.
Yes, and we encourage it. Truth & reconciliation is a shared responsibility. The most important step is to show up with humility, listen to Survivors and their families, and commit to learning. Wearing orange is action towards allyship.
Resources, Programs and Events
Yes. OSS offers a Survivor Voices Speaker Series. You can request a speaker year round for schools, workplaces, or public events. Visit the Survivor Voices Speaker Series page to learn more and submit your request.
Our programs include:
- The Orange Jersey Project – Engaging youth through sport and storytelling
- Every Child Matters Crosswalks – Community-led public art installations
- Quilts for Survivors – Honouring Survivors with gifts of care and healing
- Graduation Celebrations – Events that recognize Orange Shirt Day – Every Child Matters in the K-12 education curriculum
- Routes to Reconciliation Book Study – Transformative book studies based on the principle of reconciliation through education
- Survivor Voices Speaker Series – Hear the truths from those who lived it
Visit the Programs Page to explore each initiative.
Visit the Resources page to get started. You’ll find resources, planning tools, and licensing information to support a meaningful, respectful, and community-led event.
Licensing
Visit our Licensing Page to apply for a license. Applications are reviewed to ensure that usage aligns with OSS values and the integrity of the message.
Yes. Every Child Matters is a trademarked phrase rooted in Phyllis Webstad’s personal story and the work of the Orange Shirt Society.
- Available for non-profit use in schools, community events, and awareness campaigns.
- Required for businesses or groups selling shirts or merchandise for profit or fundraising purposes.
Licensing helps protect the message from misuse, ensures alignment with OSS’s mission, and keeps the story connected to its truth.
Yes, and that’s exactly why we protect it. While we want the message of Every Child Matters to be widespread, we also need to ensure it’s used with respect, accuracy, and purpose.
Phyllis Webstad owns the intellectual property tied to her orange shirt story. When an orange shirt is used for September 30th, it must include Every Child Matters. Licensing keeps the message rooted in truth & reconciliation and ensures proceeds support the work of Orange Shirt Society.
Donations directly support the operation and programs of OSS. Honouring Survivors and their families, remembering those that never made it home. Ensuring the doors to conversations about Indian residential schools continue. Educating youth, and preserving the integrity of Every Child Matters. We are a not-for-profit committed to transparency and purpose-driven impact.