Last week, FCT welcomed Tim O'Loan, a Sahtu Dene from the Northwest Territories, Canadian military veteran and former Advisor to the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, to our Oakville office in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Drawing on his lived experience and work in reconciliation, Tim joined employees for an open1 conversation about Indigenous history, identity, mental health and reconciliation in Canada.’
Through stories that were personal, difficult and deeply moving, Tim invited employees to listen with openness and reflect on how greater understanding, and empathy can shape the way we relate to one another and approach reconciliation.
The event marked the first edition of The Third Perspective, a new experience created by FCT's employee resource group, Mosaic. The series is designed to bring employees together to hear perspectives they may not encounter in their everyday lives and to create room for thoughtful conversation and reflection.
Reconciliation extends beyond a single event or day of recognition. It requires continued listening, learning and reflection, and consideration of the role each of us can play.
The inaugural session reflected that purpose. Rather than approaching reconciliation as a topic to be observed from a distance, the conversation invited employees to consider the people and lived realities behind Canada's history and the ways that history continues to affect Indigenous Peoples, families, and communities today.
As we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, Tim's visit reminds us that reconciliation extends beyond a single event or day of recognition. Continued listening, learning and reflection can deepen our understanding and help each of us consider the role we can play.
Thank you to Tim for sharing his experiences and perspectives with our team, and to Mosaic for creating a respectful space for this important conversation. We encourage employees to carry the learning from the session forward and to continue to listen, reflect, and learn.