Recognizing the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

In Canada, September 30 marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – a day that honours the Indigenous children who never returned home from residential schools and those who survived, as well as their families and communities. The day coincides with Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led, grassroots day to commemorate and raise awareness of the tragic history of residential schools and show a collective commitment to ensure that Every Child Matters.

To acknowledge this important day and to give our Cenovus Energy staff the opportunity to increase their understanding of Indigenous culture, our Indigenous Community Sharing Circle (ICSC) employee network and Community & Indigenous Affairs team organized multiple ways to for staff to get involved.

“We’ve come up with simple, interactive ways for staff to commemorate the day and show their support,” says Andrea Louise, Indigenous Inclusion Advisor at Cenovus. “From wearing an orange shirt to participating in a virtual Kairos Blanket Exercise, there are many ways for everyone to learn about the history and culture of Indigenous peoples.”  

Two women are standing side-by-side in front of a window. They are wearing orange t-shirts that say "Every Child Matters." They are smiling at the camera.
Two women are standing behind a table in a building lobby. The table has educational and orange materials in honour of Orange Shirt Day. They are both wearing orange shirts.
ICSC members hand out Orange Shirt Day cookies and postcards to staff.
“This year we’ve also launched a challenge through our employee giving and volunteering program, Cenovus Cares, where staff are encouraged to complete activities to learn more about the meaning behind National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the steps we can take towards reconciliation,” shares Andrea. “For each individual activity completed, Cenovus will make a donation to Indspire, a national Indigenous charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, and at the end of the challenge, our collective efforts will prompt a larger corporate donation.”   

Beyond awareness activities, our Community & Indigenous Affairs team deeply supports reconciliation efforts and works closely with neighbouring Indigenous communities in our operating areas to meaningfully include them in our business. 

“We believe advancing Indigenous reconciliation means taking meaningful action,” says Trent Zacharias, Director, Community & Indigenous Affairs. “Whether it be through our day-to-day reconciliation efforts, or through participating in these activities to show their support, we hope everyone takes the time to understand and reflect.”

LAST UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 2023

Indigenous reconciliation

Learn about our approach to Indigenous reconciliation.

Indigenous Housing Initiative

Find out more about the launch of our $50 million Indigenous Housing Initiative.

Inspiring resiliency through education
Jon Albert’s unique educational journey is setting an example for students and Indigenous youth. Read Jon's story.
Tawâw Park: Come in, you’re welcome
Tawâw is the Cree word for ‘come in, you’re welcome’ or ‘there is always room for one more’. And that is exactly the goal of Tawâw Park, an inclusive, natural space in the Town of Lamont. Read more about our support.
Share this page