BC Lions to celebrate Orange Shirt Day with $20k donation, full stadium

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The BC Lions are bringing awareness to Canada’s first National Truth and Reconciliation Day for their Sept. 24 game, raising $20k in donations and giving 350 tickets to residential school survivors.

Players will also be wearing orange tape on their faces as they play against Saskatchewan, but that’s not all they’re doing.

Special guest Phyllis Webstad and artist Corinne Hunt will be there, surrounded by a stadium full of fans wearing orange. During the half-time entertainment, Webstad will be live on television and radio, and she’ll be speaking to APTN before the game begins.

Orange Shirt Day was started by Webstad in 2013, when she spoke to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. On her first day at a residential school, she had her orange shirt taken from her — the inspiration behind the event.

Later in life, she looked forward to receiving the BC Lions’ tiny, orange footballs and dreamed of a game like the one happening on Sept. 24.

“When I had seen the football, it was a dream for me, an idea I had that maybe survivors and their families could go to one of these football games and be honored there, and they could know about what happened to us and bring that to a lot of people,” she said in the BC Lions Orange Shirt Day announcement.

“We’ve been through a lot, and it’s good to have something positive and fun. We can’t always be crying,” she said.

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Matt Baker, Manager of Communications and Content for the BC Lions, says the confirmation of unmarked graves containing the bodies of Indigenous children “hit home in many ways,” inspiring the BC Lions to take action.

They gave 350 tickets to residential school survivors to come to the game, and the first 10,000 fans to arrive will get a free orange t-shirt designed by Corinne Hunt. Hunt also designed the medals for the Olympic Games in Vancouver.

“These t shirts are very special and popular, so come early,” says Baker.

Tickets to Friday’s game sold out in record time. Once they announced the Orange Shirt Day initiative, tickets started selling fast, says Baker.

They also sold 10,000 shirts at $2.00 each for a total donation of $20,000 to the Orange Shirt Society, founded by Webstad.

“Even though this isn’t necessarily a positive story, we’ve had lots of positive reactions,” he says.

‘Orange Shirt Day’ at Friday’s @BCLions game. Free tickets to residential school survivors. First 10,000 fans receive orange t‑shirt. pic.twitter.com/n0BRILqFGx

— Tim James (@_TimJames) September 24, 2021

Baker and the BC Lions suggest that all Canadians learn about the history of Indigenous people in this country, including the discovery of unmarked graves at residential schools.

“We would encourage everybody who is not familiar with this tragic history to educate yourself,” he says.

Melanie Mark, the first First Nations woman to serve in B.C.’s legislative assembly and cabinet, and Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, & Sport, said in the BC Lions Orange Shirt Day Announcement she’s proud of being a granddaughter of those who went to residential schools.

“The BC Lions together with the Ending Violence Association of BC had the inspiration to raise awareness for orange shirts and show respect for Canada’s first National Truth and Reconciliation Day,” she said.

“This partnership is an example of pow-wowing together on the path to reconciliation.”

Tonight’s game will be a packed house, but the stadium is still not operating at full capacity in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at the event.