(L-R) Grade 9 student Mya McCullough from St. Francis of Assisi Middle School announced as winner of the Orange Shirt Day design contest, being presented with a framed copy of her design by Ms. Diane Gardipy of the Indigenous Education Services Team. (Patrick Teskey, Communications and Community Relations Coordinator for Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools)

By Alessia Proietti

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Red Deer Catholic Schools involve students for Orange Shirt Day

Sep 28, 2022 | 3:14 PM

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) are getting students involved for Orange Shirt Day.

The division says as schools will be closed on September 30 in alignment with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls-to-action, students and staff will be spending Thursday observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Officials say each school will be hosting various activities and lessons for students throughout the day to honor and learn about the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.

Students across the division were able to enter into the annual Orange Shirt Day design contest. On Wednesday, Grade 9 student Mya McCullough from St. Francis of Assisi Middle School was announced as the winner and given a framed copy of her design by Ms. Diane Gardipy of the Indigenous Education Services Team. McCullough’s classmates were also presented with a shirt at the same time.

“Education of the impacts of the intergenerational harm that residential schools inflicted must be a vital element of our actions on the journey toward truth and reconciliation. RDCRS remains committed to continuing on a path toward truth and reconciliation with our families and staff,” RDCRS officials said in a release.

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As well, Grade 9 student Ryan Leclerc of École Mother Teresa in Sylvan Lake was awarded this summer with the provincial 2022 Honouring Spirit: Indigenous Student Award, presented by the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA), for his modelled strength and “commitment in the pursuit of their personal educational paths”. The recipient of the Grades 7-9 award for ASBA’s Central Zone, he is the first ever RDCRS’ recipient.

READ: Young Indigenous student in Sylvan Lake recognized for commitment to education

“Our Division understands how important this day is, and recognizes we need to continue to remember that we have many families and community members impacted by this historic injustice every day,” the division said in a statement.