Canada is not the utopia that we like to think it is.
~ quote from a speaker at a vigil held in London, Ontario
With the murder of a Muslim family in London, this past week, the discovery of 215 Indigenous children's bodies in Kamloops, the ongoing inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, the rise in anti-Asian incidents, and the ongoing Black Lives Matters movement, the quote above is a stark wake-up call for some of us. Others of us have been living in a dystopian reality for generations.
The City of Victoria cancelled their Canada Day celebrations in part due to COVID restrictions but also because Indigenous communities who normally participate in the celebrations did not want to this year. The City of Victoria made international news almost 3 years ago when they took down their John A. Macdonald statue at the entrance of the building. Last week, Ryerson activists defaced and toppled the Egerton Ryerson statue and are calling for a name change for the school. Colonialism, and its impact on our society, are under the microscope.
At our virtual members' meeting last Wednesday, we shared resources to help us grieve and take action.
National Indigenous Day is coming June 21 and one member organization is taking the day to mourn and reflect together. Another member organization participated this week in a walking vigil within their community.
Here are some of the resources shared to learn more about cultural sensitivity:
In the employment service sector, we are in contact with those living in more of a dystopian Canada and take action daily through making a significant difference in the lives of our clients and their families. How can we collectively do more? Deepening our understanding and sharing our thoughts with others is a good first step.
Janet Morris-Reade
CEO, ASPECT BC
