On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, we honour the resilience of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, and reflect on the dark and painful legacy of the residential school system in Canada. We remember the many children who were forcibly taken away from their families, and those whose lives were stolen from them. We pay tribute to the Survivors, and acknowledge the ongoing intergenerational trauma still experienced today by First Nations, Inuit and Metis in Canada. While National Day for Truth and Reconciliation offers us an opportunity to reflect on our painful history; it is also a call to action, inviting all of us to be active participants in the ongoing journey of reconciliation and the vital work of fostering belonging within our community and beyond.

The Humber community remains clear that they want to see Humber continuing to be a leader by advancing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) initiatives across our institution and around the province. Being a leader is about inspiring collective action, fostering collaboration, holding ourselves accountable, and championing the values that drive us toward a more inclusive and equitable environment. It requires us to actively listen to others and to work with them to dismantle barriers. Leadership is also about courage. It takes courage to have difficult conversations, to confront biases, to disrupt the status quo, and to stand up for what is right. Coincidently, these are some of the same values that we need to see more of in our path toward reconciliation.

If you think about it, belonging and reconciliation share a deep connection. Reconciliation requires a steadfast commitment to belonging, and by linking the principles of EDIB with our reconciliation efforts, we can build a more inclusive society where everyone can thrive. That’s why this past June, on the eve of National Indigenous Peoples Day, we announced that Humber would continue to advance reconciliation by offering free tuition to indigenous students from eight surrounding First Nations communities. Through these efforts, we’re creating an environment where Indigenous excellence is celebrated and integrated into the Humber experience, reinforcing our dedication to building a more inclusive Humber. In addition, last week, as part of Building Brilliance, Humber’s vision to 2030 and beyond, we were pleased to introduce Building Connections: Humber’s EDIB Action Plan, further reaffirming our collective commitment to ensuring that everyone has a place at Humber.

We still have a long way to go in our journey toward reconciliation. I recognize that there is much more work to do, and more conversations to be had. Let’s take this opportunity to renew our commitment to reconciliation and building a more inclusive Humber. As we honour the strength and resiliency of Indigenous Peoples today, let us continue to work together to build a better and more brilliant future for everyone at Humber and beyond.

AMV