Oatley Vigmond Partners with The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
In advance of September 30, Canada’s inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Partners of Oatley Vigmond are pleased to announce that the firm has been officially welcomed as a Legacy Space Partner of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF).
Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund “aims to build cultural understanding and create a path towards reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples”. The Fund’s work centres around improving the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all Canadians through their core programs, ‘Legacy Schools’ & ‘Legacy Spaces’.
“Bringing awareness of the values and traditions of our Indigenous history in Simcoe County is an important step toward reconciliation. Our partnership and legacy space provides an opportunity to build connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in our community,” says Adam Little, a Partner at the firm.
Oatley Vigmond first established its relationship with the Downie Wenjack Fund in Spring 2020 by making a $5,000 donation as an initial show of support. In becoming a DWF Legacy Space Partner, the firm is pledging to continue donating $5,000 annually over an upcoming five year period.
In addition to the financial contributions, by becoming a Legacy Space the office will also be:
• Dedicating a physical space that will provide information and encourage dialogue about Indigenous history and reconciliation to further awareness and education (see below).
• Using both Gord and Chanie’s story, as well as the Secret Path, as a tool to further reconciliation both within the organization and within the community.
• Inspiring employees, stakeholders and other community partners to engage in acts of
reconciliation through continued awareness and education.
The Barrie office’s Erie Boardroom, located on the Suite 100 level directly facing Hwy. 400, has been officially dedicated a “safe space to start or continue one’s path of reconciliation and learning”.
ReconciliACTIONs – opportunities coordinated by Oatley Vigmond and others for education and further support – are on the horizon, so please stay tuned to learn more about ways in which you can get involved. ReconciliACTIONs will be shared on the DWF website and social media channels to celebrate the work being done and to inspire others to “Do Something”.
To learn more about the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack fund, please visit their website at downiewenjack.ca.
