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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

On the occasion of the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, the CAFC is pleased to make available Truth, Reconciliation and the Fire Service, recorded live at FRC 2021 in collaboration with the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC).

Truth, Reconciliation and Fire Service Leadership

Available Here: View Recording

Presentation overview:

The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) and the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC) were pleased to hostTruth and Reconciliation in the Fire Service at Fire Rescue Canada 2021. The purpose of the session was to describe how a fire department can demonstrate its commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. The session was opened by the Honourable Murray Sinclair. Chief Keri Martens, CAFC Board Member and CAFC Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee Chair, and Chief Arnold Lazare, newly named volunteer department Fire Chief of the Year by CAFC and Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS), co-chaired the session. Speakers Chief Jeremy Parkin, Rama Fire Department and NIFSC Director of Programs, and Anna Everett, former Deputy Chief, Paramedic, and current Masters of Leadership candidate at Royal Roads University discussed section 57 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report, which is most relevant to fire departments under municipal jurisdiction.

Set in the context of tragic rates of death and injury from fire in Indigenous Communities, their talk assists Departments in primarily Non-Indigenous Communities understand mechanisms to assist sisters and brothers in all communities. The presentation was a demonstration of “two-eyed seeing” which integrates both Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives. Resources are provided to departments to continue their commitments to Truth and Reconciliation. A question and answer period followed.

CAFC Land Acknowledgement Resource

The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee has also prepared guidance for those who would like to do Land Acknowledgements. You will find them here.