Mosaic employees come together for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Company-wide learning event, complemented by other initiatives, was held to mark this important day.

Mosaic Forest Management employees, contractors, and friends and family came together on September 30 for a profound learning event as part of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Whether participating online or in person, all attendees had the opportunity to listen and reflect on what reconciliation means for them. 

Mosaic employees joined the Truth & Reconciliation learning event both in person and online.

Mosaic was honoured to have special guests Ms.Dawnda Tate and Mr. George Harris join us on September 30.

Mosaic was honoured to have special guests Mr. George Harris (Wholwolet'za), an elder from Stz'uminus First Nation near Ladysmith, and Ms. Dawnda Tate (Mnzinuxv Xayawilxiya), whose lineage includes ties to the Squamish and Bella Bella Nations, join us on September 30. The pair officially opened Mosaic’s learning event with a ceremonial blessing and drumming. Mosaic’s President and CEO, Rob Gough, encouraged learners to reflect on why truth and reconciliation are important on a personal level.  

Mr. Harris shared his first-hand experience with the residential school he attended on Kuper Island. Ms. Tate reflected on the impacts the system has had on her and her family—painful effects that are still being felt across generations.  

Learning about their lived experiences, questions from learners included “what can we do?” and “where do we go from here?” Ms. Tate encouraged everyone to “be guided and keep an open heart. When you’re open to it, that’s exactly what reconciliation is and where it starts.” 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation also falls on what is known as Orange Shirt Day, commemorated each year by wearing orange shirts in honour of residential school survivors. Mosaic gave each employee, including their children, an orange T-shirt featuring the Every Child Matters artwork of Comox artist Andy Everson. Mosaic will make a donation to the Copper Legacy Indigenous Empowerment Society for every orange T-shirt requested by an employee. 

Mr. Harris and Ms. Tate closed the event with more ceremonial drumming and encouraged staff to join them in dancing. It was a lively way to end a very deep and reflective occasion. To ensure that future employees or those who would like to reconnect with the learnings can do so, the full event was recorded. 

Before the September 30 learning event, Mosaic employees joined our guests for a potluck lunch. The potluck was a great example of people coming together to share and connect – a fitting representation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Those in attendance also had the chance to view the Indigenous artwork on display in Mosaic’s newly established office gallery.  

Mosaic remains committed to recognizing and respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, using educational opportunities to strengthen our ongoing commitment towards truth and reconciliation.  

Mosaic would like to thank Mr. Harris and Ms. Tate once again for their courage and for taking the time to help staff learn and grow. Huy ch q’u/ thank you. 

Along with the other distinguished and varied roles they’ve each held, Mr. Harris is also a founding member of the Tsow-Tun Le Lum Treatment Centre while Ms. Tate is currently its Program Director. To learn more about the Centre, visit TsowTunLeLum.org. To learn more about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, click here.  

Mosaic respectfully acknowledges the Coast Salish, Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth and Haida peoples for whose traditional lands we operate within on the BC coast.