On Sept. 30, the Vaughan Campus came together to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation through a series of events and initiatives focused on reflection, awareness, and community engagement.
The activities were coordinated by Dr. Carol Doyle-Jones, associate dean and associate professor, College of Education; Kimberlee Smith, faculty fellow, College of Education, LeChelle Saunders, director, Student Experience and Success, and members of the Education Student Council.
Building on Vincentian Heritage Week, the initiative invited students, staff, and faculty to reflect on the Vincentian values of compassion, dignity, service, and solidarity while raising awareness of Truth and Reconciliation and supporting Orange Shirt Day.
Students, staff, and faculty came together across campus to honour the day, engaging with thoughtful displays and learning opportunities featured throughout the North and South Buildings. These initiatives created opportunities for members of the campus community to pause, reflect, and deepen their understanding of the ongoing journey toward reconciliation.
A special thank you to the Education Student Council for curating this initiative and helping bring Truth and Reconciliation to life across our campus. Their leadership in spearheading the campus decorations, Indigenous artist spotlight, awareness interviews, and Orange Shirt sales helped create meaningful opportunities for our community to come together, reflect, and learn. We are grateful for their time, creativity, and commitment to supporting this important day.
The day culminated in a storytelling session, Beyond the Orange Shirt, facilitated by Robert Cutting, who is of Kanienkeha’ka ancestry. The session was offered in person in the morning at the North Building Atrium and online in the evening, providing the broader NUO community with an opportunity to listen, learn, and reflect on the significance of Truth and Reconciliation.
About Robert Cutting
Robert Cutting has been an educator and writer all his life. Through his interest in science, history and his Kanienkeha’ka ancestry, Robert weaves these aspects into his storytelling, writing and presentations to give a unique perspective on everyday life. A few years ago at our NUO convocation ceremony, Robert was presented with the Ozanam Medal, named after Frederic Ozanam who founded the “Society of Good Studies,” which was intended to bring people together to connect religion with the challenges of the day, eventually leading to the establishment of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Robert continues to share his wisdom, experiences, and stories with students, teachers, and future educators.
