At this time of national mourning, we at the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing wish to acknowledge the tragic of loss of 215 Indigenous children after their remains were found on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School.
This is a traumatic reminder of the systemic violence that Indigenous communities continue to face, and I want to express my deepest sympathies to members of the Secwépemc Nation, as well as to our students, staff, and faculty who may be rightfully distressed and affected by this terrible loss.
The Faculty of Nursing is committed to Truth and Reconciliation and learning alongside our Indigenous partners to ensure we address the injustices that many members of Indigenous communities continue to suffer particularly within our health care system.
The University of Toronto will fly its flags at half mast across its three campuses to honour the deaths of all Indigenous children.
For members of our community seeking support during this difficult time, it is available 24/hrs a day through the following resources. For Indigenous students, email: fnh.info@utoronto.ca, and all students through the MySSP app or by calling 1-844-451-9700 / 1-416-380-6578. Staff and faculty may access support through the Employee & Family Assistance Program.
Linda Johnston, PhD FEANS FCAHS FAAN
Professor and Dean
Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing