2026 Intergenerational March to Commemorate Orange Shirt Day

Date: September 30, 2026 | 11:45 am–3:00 pm
Location: Various locations around UBC Vancouver Campus, meeting at 1956 Main Mall

All Day Offerings

Educational Materials, T-Shirts & Food
Stop by the open area outside the UBC Bookstore to purchase educational materials and Orange Shirt Day T-shirts. Food trucks and the UBC Bookstore trailer will be on site from 10:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

T-shirt proceeds will be donated to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. You can also donate directly through the IRSSS website.

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

Sacred Fire Ceremony

The Centre for Indigenous Land-Based Education, Research & Wellness at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm invites the community to a sacred fire ceremony commemorating the children who never returned home, Residential School survivors, and their families and communities.

September 30, 2026 | 7:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
xʷc̓ic̓əsəm, 3461 Ross Drive, Vancouver

The ceremony will be held from sunrise to sunset. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. Everyone is welcome.

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 and Land Acknowledgement – Alec Guerin, Councillor and Musqueam Nation member Remarks – Johnny Mack, Academic Director, IRSHDC Remarks – Wade Grant, Member of Parliament and Musqueam citizen	1956 Main Mall
12:20-12:50 p.m.	Elder Kelly White and Lana Arnold from Moontide Reconciliation drums followed by  student drum group	1956 Main Mall
12:50-1:15 p.m.	Indian Residential School survivor and Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones speaks on his experiences and journey	1956 Main Mall
1:15-1:30 p.m.	Aileen Michel (L’il Bear) and drummer performance	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.	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
2:35 p.m.	Elder Bill Jones speaks on his book, co written with Karen Moe, Listening Once Again to Our Great Mother	Thunderbird Commons Field
2:50 p.m.	Closing remarks from the Faculties 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
3:15 p.m	Book signing by Elder Bill Jones and Karen Moe outside the UBC Bookstore, copies available for purchase at the Bookstore Trailer	Lee Plaza in front of UBC Bookstore
4:00 p.m.	Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? Play written by Tai Amy Grauman Produced by Axis Theatre Métis love-story that transcends time to safeguard history. More details & tickets (free): theatrefilm.ubc.ca	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.