Dear CMCC Community,
This week, as we approach Canada Day, we grieve together as a nation, witnessing the second discovery of an unmarked grave at a residential school at the Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan. This follows the earlier discovery this month of a mass grave found on the former Kamloops Residential School grounds in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, British Columbia.
It’s hard to find words to express the horror in such a discovery and the sense of immense sadness surrounding the lives of the children who attended the schools, their families and communities. News will continue to be forthcoming as investigations provide more details into this unfathomable tragedy which calls us to reflect as a nation and underscores the need for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Missing Children Project.
To all of our Indigenous employees, students, patients, partners and friends, CMCC is committed to reconciliation through acknowledgement and action as we continuously reflect upon our practices and learn from past mistakes. Our hearts and thoughts go to the Indigenous communities who have been and continue to be impacted by the Residential School system.
In respect to those laid to rest at the site of the former school at Cowessess First Nation, CMCC will lower its flag to half-mast through Canada Day or as directed by our federal government. We invite reflection upon this period of our history and a future that invites healing.
If you have been affected by this tragedy, please know that supports are available for you. If you need culturally appropriate resources, please visit CMCC’s BeSafe webpage where you can find information on immediate mental health service for Indigenous peoples. Alternatively, other internal personnel who can be contacted are:
· Kimberley Kelly, Director of Student Affairs (kkelly@cmcc.ca) (student resource)
· Sharlene Browne, Director of Human Resources (sbrowne@cmcc.ca) (employee resource)
Sincerely,
Dave
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David Wickes, DC, MA, President
Hello CMCC Community,
Late last week, we learned the heartbreaking news of the discovery of a mass gravesite with 215 bodies of Indigenous children, found on the former Kamloops Residential School grounds in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, British Columbia. This news is shocking and disturbing and provides an even clearer picture of the horrific Canadian Residential School system, the lasting impacts of which we still see within our Indigenous communities today. The Residential School System was a great tragedy for our country and further demonstrates the need for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Missing Children Project .
Today is the start of Canada’s National Indigenous History Month. The devastating news out of Kamloops is another reminder of why the month of observation is important.
CMCC extends its deepest sympathies to the Indigenous communities who are only now able to start the grieving process for their missing children. Our thoughts and hearts go out to them in this time of mourning.
To all of our Indigenous employees, students, patients, partners and friends, CMCC is committed to reconciliation through acknowledgement and action as we continuously reflect upon own practices and learn from past mistakes. CMCC has lowered its flag to honour the lives that have been lost, and we invite everyone to wear the colour orange this week to show our respect for the victims, their families and communities. If you have been affected by this tragedy, please know that supports are available for you. If you need culturally appropriate resources, please visit CMCC’s BeSafe webpage where you can find information on immediate mental health service for Indigenous peoples. Alternatively, other internal personnel who can be contacted are:
Sincerely,
Dave
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David Wickes, DC, MA, President
Good afternoon students and employees,
During the COVID-19 pandemic, prejudicial attitudes and discrimination towards different groups that make up our multicultural community have intensified. Biases and misinformation, based on cultural identities have led to anti-Asian rhetoric, violence and harassment in North America and around the world. In Toronto, too, we have witnessed acts of vandalism and harassment targeting the Asian community.
CMCC condemns of all forms of racism, including anti-Asian racism. CMCC rejects the false notion that Asian communities are at blame for the pandemic and acknowledges the integral role that Asian Canadians play both at CMCC and within the community at large.
To the members of the Asian community at CMCC, we stand in solidarity with you as valued members of this institution. Racism, harassment, and violence suffered by the Asian community, like any other of our valued communities, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Over the past few years, great strides have been taken at CMCC to create an environment where students, staff, and faculty feel safe, respected, and a sense of belonging. Equity, diversity and inclusion are fundamental pillars upon which CMCC stands, and together we will continue to work towards a culture that acknowledges and addresses the systemic discrimination of minority groups and marginalized populations.
Wednesday, April 14, 2021 is the International Day of Pink. On this day we encourage members of the CMCC community to wear pink to show their solidarity with those who are striving to create a diverse and inclusive environment for all, including the Asian Community.
If you are a student and need support, please contact Kimberley Kelly, Director of Student Affairs (kkelly@cmcc.ca).
If you are an employee, please contact Sharlene Browne, Director of Human Resources (sbrowne@cmcc.ca).
Dave
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David Wickes, DC, MA, President
Dear CMCC students and employees,
This past week we have witnessed an extraordinary combination of outrage, grief, frustration, confusion and sadness as we watched the tragic events in the US spread across North America and around the world. The pent-up rage over the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others by police officers erupted into protests and violence.
In Toronto, we have seen large rallies and demonstrations, largely peaceful, over these senseless and brutal acts, as well as those against a number of Indigenous peoples across Canada over the years. This has had an emotional impact upon many of our students, including several who wrote me thoughtful emails over the weekend.
Last week we made a brief posting on our social media outlets to remind our community that our core values and even the chiropractic oath reflect our commitment to equality, respect, and caring for other people. But as the situation continues to unfold there is a need for expansion upon these principles. I want to assure you that CMCC is unwavering in its opposition to violence against all minorities, aggression aimed at people of colour, anti-Black racism, oppression, white supremacy, and any type of discrimination.
There is always the risk in making a statement about institutional values, societal unrest or injustices that some people will be upset by the perceived focus upon one ethnic group or the seeming use of platitudes in a turbulent time. But the Black Lives Matter movement is against violence and systemic racism towards Black people. Recent activities were triggered by police violence against Black individuals. We shouldn’t de-emphasize that just because we do not want to lose track of biases and discrimination against other ethnicities, religions, sexual orientation, gender, or persons with other belief systems.
Most of you know that I moved to Canada six years ago from the US. I’ve watched in horror and shame as the US President has made incendiary remarks and has been unapologetic about his endorsement of the use of overwhelming force to address issues in various cities. I’ve watched with admiration how the Canadian protests, including those in Toronto, have generally been peaceful and have tried to keep their anti-Black racism message at the forefront.
Is there an opportunity for CMCC to learn from all this? I certainly hope so. In the past few years, CMCC has made progress in dealing with issues around discrimination, but there is obviously still work to be done. Three years ago, our Human Resources Division initiated training on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and brought in an expert from Ryerson University to lead that training. Last year we created a new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, which includes representation from students, faculty and staff. The EDI Committee will strive to create a community at CMCC where students, staff and faculty feel acknowledged, respected and a sense of belonging. The EDI Committee advises and makes recommendations on matters related to equity, diversity and inclusion at CMCC in order to maintain an
environment free of discrimination and intolerance. We recently conducted our first survey to try and establish a better understanding of the issues on campus.
Our academic team has begun to reach out to students to see if there are specific curricular issues that it should be considering. In 2018, we appointed a renowned physiotherapist and educator, a graduate of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, with a passion for multiculturalism and diversity in healthcare professions to our Program Advisory Committee. This committee is a group of persons from outside of CMCC that provides valuable input to our curriculum and academic program. We will continue to address our weaknesses and flaws, but we need to hear more from our students and employees as to how they are affected by issues of systemic racism and discrimination, what support you need from CMCC, and what you would like to see happen next.
It is unfortunate that the pandemic has closed CMCC at a time when gatherings might provide us with an opportunity to be better heard. We shall strive to find other ways to hear your voices.
Dave
