2025 Intergenerational March to Commemorate Orange Shirt Day

Date: September 30, 2025 | 11:45 am – 3:00 pm PST
Location: Various locations around UBC Vancouver Campus, meeting at 1956 Main Mall

Walking Forward: Honouring Youth, Carrying Hope

Join us for an Intergenerational March to commemorate Orange Shirt Day (OSD). The Faculties of Land and Food Systems and Forestry are honoured to host this event. This is one way the Faculties demonstrate their commitment to the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan. Members of the UBC community, families and those in solidarity are welcome to participate. The March is intergenerational, and aims to be educational and supportive to the Indigenous community on campus and beyond. Educational activities will allow younger participants to connect with the original inhabitants of the land and plant a seed to continue these conversations about a difficult era in Canadian history at home. 

All Day Offerings

We encourage you to stop by the open area outside the UBC Bookstore to purchase educational materials and t-shirts. The UBC Bookstore trailer will be on site from 10:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Food is available for purchase at the AMS Nest, or any of the restaurants along University Boulevard.

T-shirt proceeds are donated to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. If you would like to donate directly, please visit the IRSSS website.

Pacific Assistance Dogs Society training dogs and handlers will join attendees at the 1956 Main Mall, amphitheatre near the Ladner Clock Tower to provide support during the march. 

Agenda

Time	Event	Location
11:45 a.m.	Participants gather at outdoor ‘amphitheatre’ below the clock tower	1956 Main Mall
12:00-12:05 p.m.	Event starts and students introduce speakers and performers	1956 Main Mall
12:05-12:20 p.m.	Opening by a Musqueam Elder	1956 Main Mall
12:20-12:50 p.m.	Drum group perform	1956 Main Mall
12:50-1:15 p.m.	Speech by a survivor of St. Paul’s Residential School, Sam George of the Squamish Nation	1956 Main Mall
1:15-1:30 p.m.	Aileen Michel (L’il Bear) and Mitchell Tourangeau perform	1956 Main Mall
1:30-1:35 p.m.	MC outlines the route, identifies volunteers, and explains the march map and QR code. Volunteers distribute cards for messages of action towards reconciliation. PADS dogs and UBC counsellors are there for support.	1956 Main Mall
1:35–1:50 p.m.	March begins with placards and informational signage along the way	From 1956 Main Mall down Main Mall, towards Thunderbird Commons Field
1:50-2:00 p.m.	All participants can add written messages of action and support at tables, handprints to the Engineering cairn on Main Mall	Main Mall, Engineering cairn outside of the Kaiser building
2:00-2:20 p.m.	Stephanie Holmes, an activist and son of Alberni Residential School survivor John Jones, speaks	Thunderbird Commons Field
2:20-2:30 p.m.	Closing words from Dana-Lyn Mackenzie, member of the Hwlitsum First Nation and Senior Manager of EDI.I for the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and Land and Food Systems	Thunderbird Commons Field
2:30–3:00 p.m.	Volunteers available to collect messages of support, solidarity and action towards reconciliation, messages and handprints also can be added to Engineering cairn	Thunderbird Commons Field
3:00 p.m.	Intergenerational March concludes	n/a
4:00 p.m.	Women of the Fur Trade Written by Frances Končan | Directed by Renae Morrisseau A sharp, witty satire that re-imagines fur-trade history through the bold voices of three women. More details & tickets: touchstonetheatre.com	Frederic Wood Theatre

More Information

• The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre provides OSD resources and events throughout September. 
• Take Weaving Relations, a self-directed Canvas course which provides Indigenous awareness training. Available to UBC students, staff, and faculty. 
• Check out media from years past to learn more about the Intergenerational March to commemorate OSD. 

Wellness Resources

Engaging with Indian Residential School histories and legacies can lead to emotional reactions and (unexpectedly) difficult thoughts and feelings. Sometimes these can surface hours, days, or weeks later. This is perfectly normal. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, it is important to respect your needs and to be kind to yourself.