Youth share their dreams of a reconciled Canada

NCTR May 31 2024,

Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg, MB, May 31, 2024 – Imagine a Canada. That was the challenge youth from across Canada responded to by submitting their ideas of how a reconciled Canada looks to them. Today, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), supported by IG Wealth Management, honours the vision and creativity of these young people — our future leaders and change-makers — at the 2024 Imagine a Canada National Celebration and Gathering.

In October 2023, the NCTR issued a call-out to students across the country to submit either an art piece or essay to express their vision of a reconciled Canada, or a project plan to address reconciliation in their community or school.

In March 2024, 11 art and essay submissions and 14 reconciliation projects were chosen for their vision, creativity and contribution to the reconciliation journey in Canada. The chosen submissions will be displayed in an art booklet, sharing these inspirational visions and ideas with others. Recipients from the project stream will also receive grants of up to $1500 to help implement their reconciliation projects.

Quotes

“The NCTR is very proud to present the 2023-24 Imagine a Canada selections. Each year, I am inspired by the passion, insight and creativity of the young people who harness their talents and their ideas to help us all imagine a better Canada — a Canada where past harms inflicted upon Indigenous people are shared and acknowledged, and where actions are taken to make amends, to support healing and to ensure that these atrocities never happen again.”

Stephanie Scott
Executive Director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

“We are so proud to be able to support The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and its Imagine a Canada program,” said Damon Murchison, President and CEO, IG Wealth Management. “I’m so moved by the students’ creativity and imagination as they envision a Canada reconciled. While we have a long way to go, I’m hopeful that, through programs like this, we can continue to move the needle on the journey towards reconciliation.”

Damon Murchison
President and CEO, IG Wealth Management

The Imagine a Canada program asks youth from kindergarten to Grade 12 and CÉGEP to envision a Canada reconciled. Since 2016, the NCTR has received more than 1500 submissions and has worked with thousands of students to realize their hopes and dreams of a Canada they wish to see.

The NCTR was created to preserve the memory of Canada’s residential school system and legacy, not just for a few years, but forever. It is the responsibility of the NCTR to steward and share the truths of Survivors’ experiences in a respectful way and to work with Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators, researchers, communities, decision-makers, and the general public to support the ongoing work of truth, reconciliation and healing across Canada and beyond.

Quick Facts

Since 2016, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has received more than 1500 Imagine a Canada submissions.
In 2024, 11 art and essay submissions and 14 project plans were chosen for recognition.
Financial support for the Imagine a Canada program is provided by IG Wealth Management and Power Corporation of Canada.

Imagine a Canada past program gallery

Contact

For more information, media can contact:

Nctr-communications@umanitoba.ca

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“Ka-kí-kiskéyihtétan óma, namoya kinwés maka aciyowés pohko óma óta ka-hayayak wasétam askihk, ékwa ka-kakwéy miskétan kiskéyihtamowin, iyinísiwin, kistéyitowin, mina nánisitotatowin kakiya ayisiniwak, ékosi óma kakiya ka-wahkotowak.”
Cree Proverb