Home truths, close to home

Earlier this year Canadians were rocked by the news that a survey of the grounds at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School had uncovered the remains of 215 children buried at the site. And this was just the start, as hundreds more such revelations made the news over the spring and summer.

The journey to the light will be a long one, and the wounds will once again be raw every time more news is shared.

At our last Leaside Life editorial meeting we debated how we could acknowledge the shocking discoveries, honour and pay tribute to Indigenous experiences, and be part of a larger ongoing conversation.

We asked columnist Susan Scandiffio, recent winner of a Pandemic Hero Award, presented by Don Valley West MP Rob Oliphant, to speak with three Indigenous people who call Leaside home: Tobie Loukes, Kevin Berube, and Tabatha Bull. All were candid with her. 

As Tobie Loukes said, we must learn about the past, learn about the present, and act upon the findings for the future.

The interviews are informative, as is a resource guide at the close of the story. 

I hope our feature will only be the start of many more, important conversations in the community, and beyond.

Read also in this issue an important update from TDSB Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin on how Leaside schools are addressing Indigenous issues. 

Do you have a story to share? If so, we want to hear from you. Contact Leaside Life at: .

About Jane Auster 53 Articles
Jane Auster is the editor of Leaside Life. Jane is an award-winning professional editor and writer for print and digital who has covered a variety of industries in Canada for more than 25 years. As a print journalist, Jane has contributed to many of the major consumer magazine markets in Canada, including Maclean’s, Canadian Business, and The Globe and Mail.