Mayor’s Statement: National Day for Truth & Reconciliation

Today, as we come together to mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we acknowledge the deep impact of the Residential School System, a legacy that continues to affect Indigenous communities across our nation. This year, the discovery of 41 additional unmarked graves at the Shíshálh Residential School is a stark reminder that the journey towards truth and healing is far from complete.

The trauma inflicted by residential schools and the broader legacy of colonialism is something we all must confront. We must acknowledge the deep cultural harm imposed on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. Understanding and empathy must guide us as we learn Canada’s true history.

On this day, I urge every resident of Kitchener to honour the Survivors and the children who never returned home. This is a day for solemn remembrance and a reaffirmation of our commitment to listening, understanding, and supporting Indigenous communities.

Kitchener Council and City staff are committed to continuing to learn and understand the history and current reality of Indigenous Peoples. We are committed to tackling systemic anti-Indigenous racism and ensuring these vital conversations and actions remain central in our governance and community life.

Each of us has a role to play in this crucial work, such as attending Indigenous-led events, wearing an orange shirt, or engaging in personal reflection and education. By listening to lived experiences and understanding their realities, we foster a community grounded in respect and solidarity.

To help centre and create space for deeper reflection on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation this year, the City collaborated with Jack Spicer-Forler, a local Indigenous youth artist to create a powerful visual representation of healing and connection. The artwork, titled Journey Home, will be featured in publications and on digital platforms in 2025 and is a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience and realities that continue to shape our community.

Let us come together in unity to recognize the resilience and invaluable contributions of Indigenous Peoples to both Kitchener and the broader world. Today, and every day, we pledge to walk the path of Truth and Reconciliation with sincerity and hope, aspiring to build a future that embraces equity and justice for all.

Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, on behalf of the City of Kitchener

Journey Home – Jack Spicer-Forler

About the artist:

“My name is Jack Spicer-Forler and I am a 21-year-old mixed ancestry On^yota’a:ka (Oneida Nation) youth artist raised on the Haldimand Tract,” says Jack. “I am passionately Two Spirit, and my pronouns are they/he.”

“My business, Onikw^tala (Cardinal) Crafts, is focused on revitalizing Haudenosaunee culture by sharing the stories we carry with the land. I offer personal artworks that resonate with Indigenous sovereignty and allow the viewer to connect with the land’s present.”

About Journey Home:

“I’ve named the art piece Journey Home, which holds a deep spiritual and intergenerational perspective of the many different journeys we are currently on as Indigenous people,” explains Jack. “A journey home can refer to reuniting with family, or reconnecting to your roots. It could be the personal healing journeys within ourselves and our grief. Sometimes it is our journey to Sky World, or simply a conversation we have with our ancestors. I invite the viewer to seek their own meaning and to know that none of us are alone in our endurance; there will always be someone or something to guide us along the way.”

“My connection to Truth and Reconciliation goes back to my grandmother, Edith Spicer (née Doxtator) who had fled from Oneida Nation of the Thames at the age of fifteen after suffering traumas within the residential school system. At the time, she did not have access to the love of guidance that she needed. She did not see her aunts or meet her nieces until 2011, 60 years later. This was a pivotal moment of reconnection in our family, and my dear Grandmother was able to make peace knowing how loved she was. This is an unfortunately common experience for Survivors, and it’s what inspires me to speak out about the various ways in which we are still oppressed.”

To learn more about Jack and connect with their art, visit their Instagram.

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For more information: 
Shannon Weber 
Chief of Staff  
City of Kitchener 
media@kitchener.ca