Orange Shirt Day (September 30th) recognizes and raises awareness about the Indian residential school system in Canada, and joins us together in the spirit of reconciliation, to honour the experiences of Indigenous Peoples. Between the late 1800s and 1996, more than 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children attended residential schools – Orange Shirt Day commemorates this legacy.
Orange Shirt Day 2020
On this day of September 30th, we call upon humanity to listen with open ears to the stories of survivors and their families, and to remember those that didn’t make it.
Official 2020 Orange Shirt Day design and bead pin
Orange Shirt Day Origins
Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, Executive Director of the Orange Shirt Society writes:
“I went to the Mission for one school year in 1973/1974. I had just turned 6 years old. I lived with my grandmother on the Dog Creek reserve. We never had very much money, but somehow my granny managed to buy me a new outfit to go to the Mission school. I remember going to Robinson’s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had string laced up in front, and was so bright and exciting – just like I felt to be going to school!
When I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never wore it again. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t give it back to me, it was mine! The color orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.”
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (“SJM”) Residential School (1891-1981) Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in May 2013. This project was the vision of Esketemc (Alkali Lake) Chief Fred Robbins, who is a former student himself. It brought together former students and their families from the Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in, Southern Dakelh and St’at’imc Nations along with the Cariboo Regional District, the Mayors and municipalities, School Districts and civic organizations in the Cariboo Region.
The events were designed to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation.
The date, September 30, was chosen because that was the time of the year the trucks and buses would enter the communities to “collect” the children and deliver them to their harsh new reality of cultural assimilation, mental, sexual and physical abuse, shame and deprivation.
How to Participate
The 2020 design (image above), by Jackson Eiteneier, a grade 9 student in Calgary, is available online for $15 from the Orange Shirt Day Society here. You can also purchase beaded lapel pins from Tribal Roots online here.
In Vancouver, you can buy a beautifully designed shirt with artwork by local artist KC Hall from the Urban Native Youth Association (“UNYA”) and wear your shirt on September 30th. Call the office at (604) 254-7732 to order and arrange pickup.
Update 2021
Please note UNYA no longer has these shirts available.
UPDATE June 2021 Totem Design House has released limited edition Andy Everson Every Child Matters shirts with 100% of proceeds going to Copper Legacy Indigenous Empowerment Society for the development and facilitation of an Indigenous Youth Suicide Prevention Program.
London Drugs also has Orange Shirt Day designs available in their stores.
Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come. Follow the campaign on Facebook and YouTube here and wear your orange shirt on September 30th to show your support.
The Vancouver International Film Festival (“VIFF”) has programmed its 39th edition, showcasing more than 100 feature films and events, including a vibrant blend of boundary-pushing Canadian work, adventurous East Asian cinema, provocative and inspiring documentaries, elevated genre cinema, festival favourites and much more.
VIFF 2020
September 24 to October 7, 2020 VIFF Connect Festival Subscriptions $60 Regular / $30 Students VIFF Connect Gold Subscription $95 VIFF Connect Streaming Tickets $9 / In-Cinema Tickets $15 VIFF Talks $10 VIFF AMP Pass $45 / Tickets $10 Totally Indie Day $45 / $30 Students VIFF Immersed Free Purchase online
A 14-day online-primary festival, available throughout the province of British Columbia on the new VIFF Connect streaming platform, VIFF 2020 will also feature a select number of in-cinema presentations, including the opening film and world premiere of Loretta Sarah Todd’s Monkey Beach. The adaptation of Eden Robinson’s beloved novel will be screened at several independent cinemas throughout the province in compliance with COVID-19 capacity restrictions and the latest provincial health and safety regulations.
Those attending the in-cinema program during VIFF will experience the newly renovated VIFF Centre. The first major renovation in the space’s 15-year history, the $2.8 million undertaking features a new 41-seat Studio Theatre, a dedicated Education Suite, a New Media Lab and a redesigned atrium. Additional theatre screenings during the festival will be held at The Cinematheque.
“The more streamlined program we’re presenting this year has allowed us to bring a greater focus to the stories we’re sharing and filmmakers we’re showcasing,” says Curtis Woloschuk, Associate Director of Programming.
“While audiences will find the same quality of films, they’ll represent a greater diversity of perspectives. Of the 24 Canadian features at the festival, 14 are by female creators and 11 are by BIPOC filmmakers — including must-see works by emerging and established Indigenous directors. This commitment to representation is also demonstrated by the complement of VIFF Short Forum creators and the cohort for this year’s VIFF Catalyst mentorship program, which will offer creative development and relationship building opportunities for filmmakers from underrepresented communities.”
A $60 all-access VIFF Subscription will bring world-class cinema and experiential programming into the homes of thousands of British Columbians starting at 12:00pm on September 24, 2020. While film programming will be geo-blocked to the province, other signature programming — including VIFF Talks, VIFF AMP, Totally Indie Day and VIFF Immersed — will be available across Canada and internationally, providing an unprecedented level of access to filmmakers and fans around the globe.
I have a VIFF Connect Festival Subscription to give away that includes access to all online films, in addition to VIFF Talks (speakers this year include Charlie Kaufman, who just released I’m Thinking of Ending Things on Netflix).
Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Click below to post an entry on Twitter
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I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. UPDATE the winner is Jennifer!
Under hazy skies, which will hopefully clear Saturday morning, there is a hearty lineup of things to do in Vancouver this weekend, both online and beyond. When it’s safe to be outdoors again, there are several local farms offering fall experiences. Find these and more events below:
Location: #97 Braid Street, New Westminster (across from Braid Skytrain) The extended dates are: September 19-20; October 3-4; October 17-18; October 31-November 1, 2020.
Order some Shave Ice from Juicy Green Express, perogies and sausage from Hunky Bill’s, the Vanmonster Burger from B&B Burgers, boneless garlic ribs poutine from TLC Poutine, popcorn chicken from Steve O’s, veggie falafel from G’s Donairs, crepes, teriyaki, mac n cheese, mini donuts, corn dogs, and much more. Check the rotating food truck schedule here.
Produced by West Coast Pop Ups, the experience is run by a collective group of small businesses who have operated through the COVID pandemic by either sharing their revenue with other struggling businesses or with local charities.
Shop multiple food trucks, all positioned in a row, with a single payment at the end. This helps to protect the safety of the public, the businesses and event staff. Only debit and credit are accepted, no cash. Grab n’ go walk-up purchases are now allowed.
Partial proceeds support the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, with $3,400 raised to date. Follow West Coast Pop Ups on Facebook for more info.
This summer Stanley Park Brewing launched the Waypoint Hazy Pale Ale, a new beer dedicated to those who are starting to emerge from lockdown and heading out to “discover new waypoints along your journey”.
Waypoint Hazy Pale Ale
This brew is made with a strong mix of hops and malts including: African Queen, Comet and Crystal hops; and Pale Malt, Malted Oats, Malted Wheat, and Golden Naked Oats.
It has a golden haze appearance, an aromatic grapefruit citrus and tropical fruit flavour, and a low perceived bitterness and refined alcohol level coming in at 5.2% ABV and 35 IBU.
Brewmaster Thom Riley explained that although there have been a lot of hazy pale ales on the market recently, he was interested in making a more drinkable version. “I’ve tried to keep the same level of hoppiness and flavour you’d expect from an IPA, but just dialled back the alcohol. It has all the mouthfeel and aroma of a traditional IPA; it’s just a little more sessionable. I think this is a great beer for those who appreciate a hop-forward style.”
During these odd times of pandemics, quarantines and other natural disasters, the artwork shared on the Waypoint Hazy Pale Ale packaging and cans also holds some timely symbolism. The illustration highlights Stanley Park’s Brockton Lighthouse signifying a beacon of light in a sea of haze. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Enter to Win
I have a prize pack to give away, valued at $150! It includes: Waypoint Hazy Pale Ale 6pk, a stainless steel straw set, Bees Wax sandwich wrap, stainless steel pint cup, hammock, patches and a toque.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Click below to post an entry on Twitter
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a @stanleyparkbrew #WaypointHazyPaleAle prize pack http://ow.ly/yu6z50BrUiY” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
