A Thoughtful Canada Day

Everyone celebrates Canada Day in their own way.

As we think about July 1 and the nature of this complex country, we have gathered some information and resources to help acknowledge Canada’s ongoing issues and work towards a better future together.

Read BGC Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commitment Statement

Owen Charters, CEO of BGC Canada, has also written an article on being Canadian in this moment.

ACTIONS

• Read the TRC’s Calls to Action

• Read the 2020 update to the implementation of the TRC's recommendations

• Wear an orange shirt in memory of the children who did not survive residential schools

• Donate to an Indigenous organization

• Indian Residential School Survivors Society

• Legacy of Hope Foundation

• First Nations Child & Family Caring Society

• Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund

• Reconciliation Canada

• Talk to your children about residential schools

• IndigiNews resources

• Read a book or watch a film about one of the many Indigenous cultures on Turtle Island

• Secret Path (Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund)

• Indigenous Cinema (NFB)

• Indigenous Storybooks

• #IndigenousReads (Government of Canada)

• Indigenous Storytellers: Podcasts (University of Toronto)

• Learn about the Indigenous peoples whose land you live on

• Whose Land

• Native Land

• Residential School Interactive Map (CBC)

• Incorporate a land acknowledgement into your event

• Fly the Indigenous Canada flag, designed by Mulidzas-Curtis Wilson

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

• 4Rs Youth Movement

• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

• Personal acts of Reconciliation (CBC)

• Indigenous Ally toolkit (Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network)

• Indigenous support information (Here to Help)

• Two-spirit and Indigenous Queer Studies (University of British Columbia)

• National Indian Residential School 24-hour crisis line: 1-866-925-4419

• Hope for Wellness Help Line for Indigenous people: 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca

EDUCATION

• Indigenous Canada (University of Alberta)

• nisitohtamowin ᓂᓯᑐᐦᑕᒧᐃᐧᐣ An Introduction to Understanding Indigenous Perspectives in Canada (First Nations University of Canada)