Today, Badminton NWT recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

Sport is often described through competition. Who won? What was the score? Who qualified? Who brought home a medal? But some of the most important things that happen in sport never appear on a scoreboard.

A young person walks into a gym for the first time. Someone hands them a racquet. A coach learns their name. Another player asks them to join. And suddenly, they have somewhere they belong. Today reminds us why creating that sense of belonging matters.

Orange Shirt Day grew from the experience of residential school Survivor Phyllis Webstad, whose orange shirt was taken from her when she arrived at residential school as a child. Her story helped inspire a message that reaches far beyond one day: Every Child Matters.

We remember the children who never returned home from residential schools, Survivors, their families, and the generations who continue to experience the impacts of the residential school system. Across the Northwest Territories, our gyms bring together people from different communities, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

We have a responsibility to ensure those spaces are welcoming and respectful. That means listening. It means learning. It means recognizing the history and experiences of Indigenous Peoples. And it means continually asking what we can do to ensure more young people have opportunities to participate, lead, compete, volunteer, coach, and belong.

Today is a day for remembrance and reflection. The responsibility continues tomorrow. 🧡 Every Child Matters.