TransLink is encouraging its employees to take some time to reflect on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and to spend some time learning and to educate themselves
The transportation authority, whose headquarters are in New Westminster, is also encouraging its employees to wear orange shirts. It’s also distributed orange ribbons to its frontline employees and has shared orange backgrounds for employees to use on video calls.
“On Sept. 30, Canada will observe National day for Truth and Reconciliation, a new federal statutory day that recognizes the colonial legacy of residential schools, honouring Indigenous survivors and is really vital to the ongoing reconciliation process,” CEO Kevin Quinn told the Mayors’ Council at its Sept. 29 meeting. “At TransLink we have several activities planned for Truth and Reconciliation Week, which runs from Monday to Friday of this week to empower our employees to learn, to listen and to converse.”
A TransLink spokesperson told the Record the organization held a very insightful speaker series on Tuesday with Ry Moran, a member of the Red River Métis and University of Victoria’s inaugural associate university Librarian – reconciliation. He’s also the founding director at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba, where he contributed to major national initiatives.
TransLink provided its employees with a number of virtual and in-person events they could attend today to continue learning and moving towards reconciliation.
Mayor Jonathan Cote, who is chair of the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation, said he hopes members of the mayors’ council and the residents in their communities spend some time on Sept. 30 reflecting on this important day in Canada.
“This is an opportunity for all of us, both personally and professionally, to reflect on reconciliation and our relationship with Indigenous communities across this nation. No doubt this is a painful part of our nation’s history but an important part for us to reconcile and acknowledge as we move forward."
Follow Theresa McManus on Twitter @TheresaMcManus
Email tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
