Housing co-ops reflect on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Published September 30, 2025

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to honour Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. It is a time to deepen commitments toward meaningful truth and reconciliation between settler and Indigenous communities. 

As CHF Canada continues on its reconciliation journey, we also want to support member co-ops in their own reconciliation pathways. 

In doing so, we keep the words of Tina Stevens, former President and Indigenous Communities Director for CHF Canada, close to our hearts. At the 2025 Annual Meeting, she was named an Honourary Lifetime Associate of CHF Canada. Tina was instrumental in guiding our collective footsteps on the path to reconciliation.

And the path continues. Current Indigenous Communities Director April Ager-White continues to lead and support the co-operative housing sector in advancing truth and reconciliation in concrete ways. Earlier this year, she chaired an Indigenous-led steering committee that developed recommendations that aim to centre and support Indigenous voices in CHF Canada. We will bring more information forward on this very soon.  

And as April reminds us: 

“On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I encourage housing co-ops and their members everywhere to learn, reflect and take action, whether big or small. Start with you, and extend to your community.  

The CHF Canada Reconciliation Toolkit can help. I also recommend 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing by David A Robertson for any individual.”