EDMONTON – NorQuest College is participating in a newly enacted federal statutory holiday marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
September 30, 2021 will be a day for students, faculty, and staff to engage in reflection of the history and legacies of the Indian Residential School system and our role in advancing the processes of reconciliation.
The statutory holiday was preceded on the 29th by a half-day learning event for students, faculty, and staff. The event featured traditional ceremony and sessions guided by experts in Indigenous issues and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Legacy Areas to build understanding and awareness of the history and legacy of Indian Residential Schools.
“We believe in the transformative role education must play in NorQuest’s reconciliation efforts,” says Jonathan Robb, Acting Vice President, Learner Experience at NorQuest College. “NorQuest is extremely privileged to have the exceptional academic and research strength, supplemented by outstanding honoured guests, needed to prepare our community to grow in reconciliation.”
Education for Reconciliation
The learning event and marking of the holiday is part of NorQuest’s recommitment to reconciliation that includes:
- understanding of the legacies of the Indian Residential School system
- awareness of the Treaty principles, shared governance, and being in good relation
- understanding of Indigenization and Decolonization, and the transformative possibilities of each
“I’m so pleased that students, staff, the faculty association, and AUPE have come together to honour residential school survivors, their families and communities in this way,” says Tibetha Kemble, Senior Manager, Indigenous Relations and Supports.
The new holiday was proposed in 2015 by the TRC, which called upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish a statutory holiday to honour survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.
NorQuest will be closed on September 30, with student services resuming October 1.
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About NorQuest College: NorQuest College is Edmonton’s community college serving over 21,000 students annually throughout the province with full-time, part-time, online, and face-to-face learning options. NorQuest helps learners with diverse educational backgrounds complete or further their studies through foundational programs. Our post-secondary diploma and certificate programs and continuing education options offer rewarding career paths in health, community studies, business, environment, technology, hospitality, and diversity and inclusion training. Our suite of customized and corporate training options ensures organizations and their workforces are prepared for the demands of the future. By collaborating with business, industry, government, and communities, we ensure our learners receive workforce relevant, inclusive, and transformative educational experiences.
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Phone: 780.288.3651
Email: Mike.Reeves@NorQuest.ca