Sandwich student makes a difference through Orange Bracelet Campaign

LaSalle student Angelo Lucier came up with the idea of selling orange bracelets and donate funds to the Can Am Indian Friendship Centre, which provides direct support to Indigenous youth in Windsor and Essex County. Matt Weingarden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter

By Matt Weingarden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter

When the tragic news broke with regards to the 215 children’s bodies that were discovered at the Kamloops residential school in B.C in 2021, 11-year-old Angelo Lucier decided he wanted to do something to help.

The LaSalle resident, who now goes to Sandwich Secondary School, came up with the idea of selling orange bracelets as a way to collect and donate funds to the Can Am Indian Friendship Centre, which provides direct support to Indigenous youth in Windsor and Essex County.

“I wanted to do something to help. I decided to sell bracelets based upon the similar concept of wearing of orange shirts,” he said. “The bracelets can be worn daily as a reminder of Truth and Reconciliation and to honour those lives lost.”

Lucier, 14, describes himself as an empathetic person and felt he could make a difference.

“I wanted to stick up for those that didn’t have a voice,” he said.

As a way to get started with the idea, Lucier began a letter writing campaign inviting 214 different young people from Windsor Essex to send a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau in the summer of 2021.

He then took the gathered letters, bundles and sent them off to the P.M. and other government officials.

Lucier shares that did not hear back from any government officials other than NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who “gave me many words of encouragement regarding my cause.”

“I see orange shirts being worn all the time on September 30th,” he continued, “But, the orange bracelet we can wear on a daily basis as a reminder of what happen at those schools.”

The bracelets are sold for $3 each and the Campaign has been able to raise over $6500 since its inception. If you are interested in supporting Angelo and his cause you can email him at orangebraceletcampaign.com.

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