It has been one year since we learned from Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation of the confirmation of 215 unmarked burials at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia. Today, we remember and honour those children whose lives where tragically lost and all those who continue to suffer from this loss and the legacy of trauma left by the Residential School system.

For many of us, this was the first time learning that so many children lost their lives because of the operation of Residential Schools, whether it be through disease, violence, neglect, accidents or perished as they tried to escape. These facts were known to First Nation, Métis and Inuit families for generations. Since this disturbing discovery, many Indigenous communities in Ontario and across Canada are continuing the difficult work of searching, identifying and investigating potential burial sites on and around former Residential Schools sites.

The Halton Children’s Aid Society (Halton CAS) is horrified by the senseless, targeted shooting that claimed the lives of ten innocent Black people and wounded three others in Buffalo, New York on May 14, 2022. This shooting was motivated by hate, violence and racist white supremacist ideology as Black people were targeted. These acts of senseless violence are rooted in extremism and remind us that the call to address anti-Black racism – in all its forms – requires vigilance as it remains ever-present today. This incident is a strong example of why the work of social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion is so very important.