Committing to Truth and Reconciliation

The Every Child Matters flag was raised at half-mast at Toronto Police headquarters on September 30 as a symbol act of mourning and respect for the Residential School survivors.

“We remember the children who never returned home after being sent to Residential Schools and we honour the healing journey of survivors and their families,” said Chief Myron Demkiw. “It is also about awareness. Whenever we talk about Truth and Reconciliation, we must remember that truth is very important. We must acknowledge the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of Residential Schools.”

The Chief said that dialogue, education and reflection will contribute to the healing.

“One example of education here at the Toronto Police is our mandatory Indigenous Experience Training,” he said. “This helps our members being informed and more sensitive to the reality of Indigenous communities. Whether it is internally or throughout the city, trust is a top priority. We know we still have work to do, and we are committed to continuing this work together.”

Toronto Police Service Board member Shelley Carroll said the day is not only about reflecting, but holding space for truth, to acknowledge a deeply painful and often piece of Canada history.

“As public servants, we carry a profound responsibility to serve our communities with integrity and to do so with a genuine understanding of the histories that have shaped the lives of the people we serve,” she said. “And we cannot talk about commitment to reconciliation or to building something better without first grounding ourselves in the history that survivors, families and communities have endured for generations.”

Carroll said the legacy of residential schools continues to be felt in Toronto that serves the fourth largest Indigenous population in Canada.

“The impacts are present in systemic gaps in education, health, housing, child welfare and yes, in justice,” she said, noting that police were tasked with removing children from their families, forcibly taking children to attend and returning escapees back to residential schools. "We must recognize that this inevitably shapes the way indigenous communities view law enforcement today. Trauma and blood memory live in their every interaction. This is not about individual officers. It is about understanding history and bringing that awareness into every single encounter.”

This year, members of the community and TPS members united to put together a display in the front lobby of headquarters.

The display highlights the essential elements of reconciliation, strengthening the focus on reflection, cooperation and action.

Artist Christine Laforme, Constables Jason Boyle and Monica Rutledge and Nikki Sergent contributed to the display.