Virtual Orange Shirt Day: Spreading Awareness During a Pandemic

Social media is truly a powerful tool for spreading awareness. When we look back at how the coronavirus pandemic panned out, it's pretty incredible what people were able to accomplish without actually gathering in person. From virtual concerts, to online conference meetings, to even online protests on an international scale, technology has become an incredibly valuable vehicle of spreading information and uniting people around the world.  

One such event that was accomplished virtually in 2020 is the Canadian movement called Orange Shirt Day. Inspired by the true story of a residential school survivor named Phyllis Webstad from Dog Creek, BC, this national movement emphasizes the slogan "Every Child Matters" and aims to spread awareness of the trauma residential schools caused. This beautiful, educational movement that promotes reconciliation and healing among Canadians has heavily relied on social gatherings in the past, especially in schools with students, staff and teachers coming together all across the country to hear moving speeches of survivors, participate in ceremonies and other engaging activities with Indigenous community members. However, with the current social restrictions, these kinds of gatherings are impossible this year, yet the Orange Shirt Society has overcome this hurdle by continuing to host a wide range of virtual events in several different provinces across Canada. Students, staff and teachers from all over the country still wore orange shirts to school, and even in my own classes, we discussed and acknowledged how incredibly important this movement is. Information about Orange Shirt Day was even shared by some of my friends on their social media accounts, such as InstaGram stories, where 200-300 followers can see it within a single day. 

Although this pandemic has profoundly changed countless lives as we know them, it hasn't made social justice awareness impossible. Despite the hurdles it has thrown at our society, it is never impossible or too late for education and learning. Orange Shirt Day, among countless other global social justice events of 2020, still succeeded in uniting Canadian students to learn, participate, and educate themselves on residential schools. It is a truly inspiring example of when there is a will, there really is a way. 

Check out the Orange Shirt Day virtual events of 2020 here: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/2020-events.html

Read about how Orange Shirt Day was accomplished virtually in Victoria, B.C. by reading this article: https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/orange-shirt-day-goes-virtual-in-victoria-1.24211688

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