Church Commemorates National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

In recognition of Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Willowdale Christian Reformed Church of Toronto, Ont., hosted an event alongside a Farsi ministry known as Spiritual Growth Ministry to recognize the day and learn more about Indigenous justice.

The event featured Adrian Jacobs, the CRC’s senior leader for Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation, as primary speaker and was attended by members of the congregation from various backgrounds. Among them were many recent immigrants to Canada who are eager to learn about Canada’s Indigenous history. The gathering provided a unique opportunity for the community to learn about Indigenous history, culture, and the ongoing journey toward reconciliation for the church in Canada.

Sylvie Charliekaram, an elder at Willowdale, helps to colead the Farsi fellowship. She also helped to organize the event and explained, “We planned this evening because it's important for our newcomer brothers and sisters to learn about the culture and history of Indigenous peoples. Many of our stories are intertwined.”

Charliekaram's passion for creating meaningful connections was evident throughout the evening, as she spoke of the need to “stand in solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters, and with all our brothers and sisters all over the world.”

Ahoura Zhaeentan, another Willowdale member, said he was grateful for the chance to attend the event and share the experience with his family. "I'm glad to be here tonight. It was truly informative, and we learned a lot about truth and reconciliation with the rich and long-standing culture of the Indigenous people in Canada," he shared.

Zhaeentan added that there is personal significance in being able to pass on what he learned to his daughter: “What I learned was that the lives of all children matter, no matter what color they are, what culture they come from, or which country they come from.”

Greg Sinclair, the pastor of Willowdale CRC, reflected on the importance of such events for the local church as well as the broader Christian Reformed community. “As Canadians, whether new or longer-term, it is so important for us to learn about our Indigenous history, to learn about our Indigenous neighbors, and to do what is right for them. That is what the gospel calls us to do," he said. 

The event was part of a broader effort by Willowdale to foster intercultural understanding, following a series of intercultural potlucks and similar initiatives.

Rob Datema, a deacon, echoed the sentiments of others: “What stuck out to me was listening to Adrian Jacobs share his story and learning about the Hearts Exchanged program. As someone involved with race relations, I'm asking how we can encourage other churches to understand the dynamics of race relations and the importance of engaging with Indigenous communities.”

The evening also featured interactive activities, such as beading, which helped participants to connect with a story that Jacobs had shared. 

“We made a beautiful bracelet with beads, and it symbolizes the way we need to make friends, respect each other, love each other, and grow together,” said Charliekaram.