Observing Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
West Fraser is active with more than 100 Indigenous governments, communities and organizations. For decades, the company has worked to build and nurture respectful, long-term partnerships that foster economic prosperity and a sustainable forest industry.
Leading up to September 30, 2024, West Fraser employees across Canada observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. From wearing orange to participating in local ceremonies, employees commemorated the children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.
These observances highlighted the importance of acknowledging and addressing the intergenerational impacts of residential schools.
Established in 2021, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation raises awareness of these impacts, coinciding with Orange Shirt Day, founded in 2013 by Phyllis Webstad. At six years old, Phyllis had her treasured orange shirt taken away on her first day of residential school, symbolizing the trauma and forced assimilation faced by Indigenous children.
Across our Canadian operations, West Fraser hosted activities to deepen understanding of the history and legacy of residential schools. For instance, the Slave Lake Veneer mill and High Prairie Forest Products sawmill contributed to the Slave Lake Truth and Reconciliation Monument in Alberta. This powerful monument, featuring Lewis Lavoie’s Petohte Niikinahk painting, honors the children who attended the region’s seven residential schools and conveys their gratitude for ongoing reconciliation efforts.
In Quesnel, British Columbia, Lhtako Dené Chief Clifford Lebrun led a community gathering at Lhtako Dené Park, which included survivor stories, drumming, dancing, and a water ceremony by the Fraser River.
