The BC Lions represent the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, in the Canadian Football League (CFL). They’ve been around since 1954, making them a veteran of the Canadian Football League. The team’s orange and black jerseys have become instantly recognizable symbols of Canadian football. The BC Lions are consistent contenders since they have won several Grey Cups throughout the years.
BC Place Stadium is the home field for the Lions and is a state-of-the-art, stately structure in the centre of Vancouver. There have been many football greats associated with the squad, and they have a devoted following they call “Lions Pride.” To this day, the BC Lions represent British Columbians with great pride and are an integral part of the CFL’s storied history.
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In honour of Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is observed annually on September 30, the team is holding its third annual Orange Shirt Day Game.
Since 2013, September 30 has been recognized as Orange Shirt Day to honour the people who endured Canada’s Indian Residential School System.
Jamie Taras, director of community partnerships commented: “We are extremely proud to be hosting the Orange Shirt Day game for our third year to show our support on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and to also join the entire Canadian Football League in honouring this important day on the calendar.”
“As an organization, we feel it is important to broaden our own understanding of the painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools, to raise awareness with our fans and to continue to build strong relationships within the Indigenous community.”
The Orange Shirt Society and the Indian Residential Schools Survivors’ Society (IRSSSS) will benefit from a raffle of unique Orange Shirt Day warmup jerseys worn by the players on the field.
The team is also excited to say that they will be giving out 750 free tickets to games to Residential School survivors and their families, in addition to donating $20,000 to the Orange Shirt Society.
There will be free Orange t-shirts for the first 10,000 people that enter the stadium, which will read “mountain lion” in Squamish and hənqəminəm (Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh).
On September 30, Canada commemorates Indigenous peoples’ historical injustices on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action prompted it. On this day, Canadians honour residential school survivors and their families and work toward reconciliation. It is an important step in acknowledging the sad past and creating a more equal and harmonious future for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.