Message to the community from President Lachemi
Photo: President Lachemi asks community to pause and reflect during this difficult time for Indigenous Peoples.
On behalf of Ryerson University, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Colten Boushie, the Red Pheasant First Nation, and to Indigenous communities at Ryerson University and across Canada. I understand the challenges and impact this has on the Indigenous community here at Ryerson and, with that in mind, I am asking our community to pause and reflect.
A few weeks ago, at the release of our (PDF file) Truth and Reconciliation Community Consultation Report, our community came together to affirm the role that Ryerson University must play in advancing truth and reconciliation. Every one of us – each student, each faculty member and instructor, each member of staff – must make our own commitment to reconciliation. In my speech, I talked about the need to change our culture here at Ryerson University and we have begun that journey by embarking on our seven key reconciliation initiatives.
Education is key to reconciliation. To quote Senator Murray Sinclair, Chief Commissioner of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, “education has gotten us into this mess, and education will get us out.”
We understand how something of this nature can be difficult and upsetting for our community and that people may need to gather or seek individual resources to find support. The following counselling resources are available to those in our community who may need them:
- Indigenous Traditional Counselling Services available through Ryerson Aboriginal Student Services
- Students can learn more about services available to them at the Ryerson Centre for Student Development and Counselling
- Employees seeking counselling should access the employee assistance program for resources and counselling
We will continue to promote dialogue and education on vital issues such as this, learning from each other, as we strive with mutual respect to ensure that the university is inclusive and accessible for our richly diverse community.
Mohamed Lachemi
President and Vice-Chancellor, Ryerson University