The Kitchener Panthers took to the field Sunday in specially designed orange jerseys as part of a new initiative supporting Every Child Matters. The Panthers partnered with the Orange Shirt Society to host what organizers called the first-ever Orange Jersey baseball game. Sunday’s game saw the Panthers face the Barrie Baycats. The game at Jack Couch Park featured an opening ceremony with drummers, dancers and children on the field, followed by Tyler Fuller, co-founder and ambassador of the Orange Jersey Project, throwing the ceremonial first pitch. Organizers said the event was intended to use baseball as a way to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together while creating opportunities for education, culture, healing and reconciliation. “This game is about much more than baseball. It is an opportunity to use sport as a bridge to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together while creating space for education, truth, healing, youth, culture, and the message that Every Child Matters,” said Sheena Merling, project manager for the Orange Jersey Project in a media release. Fans also had opportunities throughout the ballpark to learn more about truth and reconciliation and connect with members of the community. “Hosting the first-ever Orange Jersey baseball game is a huge honour and an important opportunity for the Panthers to stand together, honour the children who never returned home, and support Every Child Matters,” General Manager Shanif Hirani said. “We’re proud to use the sport we love to help educate, remember, and bring our community together.” The initiative followed a similar Orange Jersey Game hosted by the KW Titans basketball team. Organizers said the events have also attracted attention from larger professional sports organizations, including the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Blue Jays, which they said are considering their own Orange Jersey initiatives.
