Third annual Red Shirt Day celebrates Canadians with disabilities

TORONTO, ON (March 31, 2021) — Easter Seals Canada, along with Canadians from coast to coast, will mark the third annual Red Shirt Day in a show of solidarity for people and families living with disabilities on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.

First observed in 2019, Red Shirt Day is held on the Wednesday of National AccessAbility Week every year. The event helps to raise awareness about disability, accessibility and inclusion by creating a visible display of support for Canadians living with disabilities, celebrating their achievements and contributions to society, and inviting Canadians to engage with disability and accessibility issues.

Red Shirt Day participants are also strongly encouraged to pledge to take an active role to make their schools, workplaces and communities truly inclusive and accessible places for all.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Red Shirt Day celebrations will largely be held online again this year, with participants taking to social media using the hashtag #RedShirtDay and #RedForAccessAbility to share their photos and pledges. Easter Seals Canada is also offering many free online activities, including webinars, workshops and an art contest for children to educate and engage the Canadian public on issues related to disability, accessibility and inclusion.

“Our aim is to empower Canadians of all abilities with the awareness, knowledge and the tools to create real change and build a more inclusive and accessible country,” said Dave Starrett, President and CEO of Easter Seals Canada. “There are still major barriers – both physical and attitudinal – that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in society and this should concern all Canadians.”

Starrett added that over the past two years, Red Shirt Day has experienced a great uptake all across the country, with thousands of Canadians rallying together to raise awareness and advocate for real change.

“It is really encouraging to see so many people getting behind this movement, in the disability community and beyond. There is a greater understanding that barriers to accessibility concerns all Canadians and not just people living with disabilities, but if we can break down the barriers that people with disabilities face every day, it benefits us all.”

To learn more about Red Shirt Day and to sign up for one of the many online activities available, visit www.redshirtday.ca.