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Posted On: September 3, 2025
On behalf of: Island Health Communications
Island Health is proud to announce that, for the second year in a row, we are partnering with Nuu-chah-nulth artist Joslyn Charlie, of the Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwakwaka'wakw nations, to promote National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2025. Building on last year’s collaboration with the intention to honour the strength and healing of Indigenous communities and amplify voices. The Orange Shirt designed by Joslyn is available for purchase by all Island Health staff and medical staff on the Island Health Store. We also encourage you to visit the Orange Shirt Day Society to look at the design selected for their 2025 shirts, and review local events in your community.
The Inspiration and Design
Orange Shirt Day, or the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, is observed annually on September 30th as an opportunity to listen, learn, and reflect as an act of reconciliation. The movement began in BC, in 2013, with founder Phyllis Webstad, who is Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band).
As a health authority, Island Health acknowledges the vital role we must play in addressing systemic racism and health disparities, providing culturally appropriate care, and improving the lives and health experiences of all Indigenous patients, families, and staff that we serve.
Watch Joslyn share the process and meaning behind her work:
“I raise my hands up in gratitude to the artist Joslyn Charlie for her beautiful work and dedication to the design of this shirt, and to all the team who helped support the creation of this video. This ongoing collaboration and partnership with the Orange Shirt Day Society is a meaningful step towards reconciliation. It is important in honor of Orange Shirt Day, and every day, that we never forget the impacts of residential school and continue to try and repair the harms done on the path towards addressing Indigenous-specific racism in health care.
Kleco Kleco."
Kleco Kleco."
- Dawn Thomas, Vice President of Indigenous Health & Rural and Remote Operations
Get Your Island Health Orange Shirt
The 2024/2025 Orange Shirt is available for purchase through the Island Health Store! This will be the last year this product is available on the store site. Order as soon as you can to ensure delivery before September 30, shipping of Island Health Store products typically takes 1-2 weeks for delivery.
Whether you’re shopping on the Island Health Store, or at one of Orange Shirt Day Society’s retailers, this is a great opportunity for us all to support Indigenous art and represent the spirit of cultural safety we all strive to embody in our work and everyday lives.
To obtain an Orange Shirt, click on the webpage image below and you will be automatically redirected to the Island Health Store:
Note: Please place your order as soon as possible to ensure delivery before September 30, 2025. Depending on your location, orders can take 1-2 weeks to process and ship. The shirt is sold at cost – no profit is made. Each shirt includes a $5 donation to support Survivors or Indigenous-led education on truth and reconciliation.
While public accessibility is a future goal, the Island Health Store is currently available exclusively to Island Health staff and medical staff. Please note that, at this time, access to the Store requires an islandhealth.ca email address. A password is not needed. Instead, after submitting your email address, you will immediately receive a six-digit login code via email.
For more information, visit the Island Health Store Intranet page. How-to-use instructions and FAQs are available online. Your feedback is critical to helping us continually improve the store. Please email store@islandhealth.ca to share your thoughts or ask questions.
Orange Shirt Society
Alternatively, employees are encouraged to purchase orange shirts through the Orange Shirt Society. The link below includes a list of local premiere retailers: