An Invitation to a Collective Act of Truth and Reconciliation

Dear colleagues,

This year, as our philanthropic communities gather in Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg, we are invited into a shared national movement: one rooted in healing and our collective responsibility to truth and reconciliation.

Philanthropic Foundations of Canada and Community Foundations of Canada are coming together to invite our networks to engage in a collective act of reconciliation in support of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR).

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Born from the mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), the NCTR safeguards the records, statements, oral histories, and sacred materials entrusted to it by Survivors and their families. These truths form the sacred heart of the NCTR’s work, ensuring that the truths Survivors courageously shared continue to guide the country toward healing.

Since its establishment in 2015, the NCTR has operated from a temporary house on the University of Manitoba campus – a space long outgrown by the scope and significance of its collection. The NCTR is unique, not only here in Canada, but in the world – the NCTR’s Archival Records have been inscribed into UNESCO’s Memory of the World International Register.

Survivors have always been clear about what is needed:

“No matter where I was in the country, the number one wish Survivors had was for a place to protect, honour and preserve their history, their oral histories, for perpetuity. They wanted to know where their stories will live and have a life to educate the world about what really happened in this country.”
– Stephanie Scott, Executive Director, NCTR

A national legacy project

With a foundational $60 million contribution from the federal government, and land offered by the University of Manitoba as an act of reconciliation, the NCTR has embarked on a $40 million capital campaign to build a permanent home – a safe space for Survivors, families, learners, and future generations to engage in truth‑telling, remembrance, and dialogue. Construction is planned to begin in 2027, with doors opening in 2029, with over 90% of the funding goal raised to date. Together, through our collective acts of reciprocity, we can help the NCTR reach their goal.

This new home will be:

A safe gathering place for Survivors and their families

A space for healing, learning, and dialogue

A memorial to the children who attended residential schools, and to those who died as a result of residential school, never to return home

An international learning centre rooted in truth and respect

As the Honourable Murray Sinclair framed it:

“The work of Reconciliation is the work of generations. It is vitally important that the voices of Survivors can continue to guide us on this national journey. Their statements, and other records of our history, must be safeguarded with love and respect. And they must continue to be shared in ways that move Canadians to action. This is what a permanent home for the NCTR can mean for our children and grandchildren and for generations yet to come.”

A collective invitation

This campaign is not about obligation or expectation. It is an open invitation to engage, together.

We are aiming for 100% participation across our respective networks, with the understanding that participation can take many forms. The level of giving matters less than the collective gesture itself: a visible, national expression of remembrance, commitment, and hope.

Whether through financial contributions, learning and dialogue, mobilizing others, or amplifying the NCTR’s role in truth and reconciliation across the country, each act of participation strengthens this shared responsibility.

As philanthropic leaders, we recognize that reconciliation is not symbolic: it is practical, place‑based, and rooted in long‑term commitment. Supporting the NCTR is not about choosing one organization; it is about helping ensure that the truths of residential schools are protected, honoured, and never forgotten.

Joining together in Winnipeg

In the spirit of Reciprocity, and with both national conferences being held in Winnipeg, home of the NCTR, this moment offers a powerful opportunity for collective solidarity. Ten years after the Philanthropic Community’s Declaration of Action, this serves as a reminder that truth and reconciliation require presence, reciprocity, and sustained action.

We invite you to learn more about the campaign, reflect on your role, and consider how your foundation or organization might participate in this collective act of reconciliation.

Learn more about the NCTR’s permanent home campaign

Together, we can honour Survivors, safeguard truth, and help carry this legacy forward for generations to come.

In solidarity and respect,

Philanthropic Foundations Canada and Community Foundations of Canada

PS. Although the focus of this movement is on the NCTR campaign, we would also be pleased to share some other important and urgent Indigenous-led and Indigenous-serving initiatives in Manitoba. All acts of solidarity matter at this time. Let us know.