Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also Orange Shirt Day. It is a time for Canadians to acknowledge the tragic history and ongoing intergenerational impacts of Canadian residential schools and to learn how to participate in meaningful reconciliation.

Last week, we concluded The Truth & Reconciliation Relay with a closing ceremony at Bell Park. group of people standing outside wearing orange

The Truth & Reconciliation Relay began in 2022 as an internal initiative. In 2023, the founders of this event, Constables Anik Dennie and Katrina Pitawanakwat, reached out to our Indigenous Liaison Office to expand the program to include community organizations. A working group was created, and this group continues to work together to make this an annual initiative.

The purpose of the annual Truth and Reconciliation Relay is to raise awareness on Residential Schools, in particular the “the 94 Calls to Action” brought forward by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Further, this relay is a way to create a pathway to move towards reconciliation. This was an opportunity for participants to review an educational video on the Truth and Reconciliation Relay website and read all of the Calls to Action. From there, participants chose one of the “Calls to Action” that speaks to them personally. The relay portion is meant to give the participants time to reflect on their chosen “Call to Action” and determine how they will implement it in their personal and professional lives.

We would like to thank our sponsoring partners in this initiative, Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre , our partners at Rainbow Routes Association, the Rainbow District School Board and Sudbury Catholic Schools.

Thank you to all the individuals and organizations who participated in the relay this year. We had over 570 people take part across 29 organizations.

We are very thankful to have our community partners come together and take time to learn about our shared history, the effects this history has on our present, and to commit to moving toward a better future.

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