Statement on Kamloops Residential School Tragedy

The discovery of the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School late last week is both heartbreaking and appalling. We want to start by expressing our deepest condolences to the families and communities affected by this tragedy and all those in mourning. The grief and pain being felt by Indigenous communities across our country is unimaginable. The devastating legacy of the residential school system cannot be overstated, and the impacts of the institution reach into the homes of nearly every Indigenous family across our country.

We know that many of our employees, families and friends are experiencing sadness, grief and anger for the systemic injustices perpetuated through the residential school system. Today, we made a $10,000 donation to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, a provincial organization with a twenty-year history of providing services to Indian Residential School Survivors.

In 2016, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission published its final report, which outlined 94 calls to action to further reconciliation in Canada. Call to action 92 specifically urged the Canadian business community to take meaningful steps towards reconciliation.

To that end, we, at Technical Safety BC, remain deeply committed to reconciliation, and continue to learn every day how we can best move forward together with our Indigenous Peoples. We will continue to work with Indigenous communities to conduct meaningful consultations and build relationships. We will continue to ensure equitable access to jobs, training and education for Indigenous Canadians who apply and work for and with our organization. And we will continue to seek out new opportunities to provide employees with Indigenous Awareness Training and educational opportunities. Despite these actions, we recognize there is no linear path to reconciliation. There is more to learn, more to do, and our organization is committed to continuing that journey.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Indigenous Employees and the communities where we work. It is the duty of all of us to both honour and remember the victims of Canada’s residential school system.

George Abbott
Chair of the Board, Technical Safety BC

Catherine Roome
Lead Executive Officer, Technical Safety BC