Calls to Action at Westcoast

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation falls on September 30^th, 2025. This day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process. (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Canada.ca)  

At Westcoast, our work goes beyond recognizing Indigenous culture, families and their history on this vital day. Prior to National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, we will be sharing some of the 94 Calls to Action that Westcoast staff have adhered to within our practice to support Indigenous families and advance active and ongoing reconciliation. We hope that these messages inspire neighbouring agencies to follow suit, or to simply strike a conversation amongst staff to find further ways to Indigenize their practice.   

Call to Action under Child Welfare 1(ii)

In alignment with the federal government’s Call to Action under Child Welfare 1(ii)—which calls on all levels of government to provide adequate resources that enable Aboriginal communities and child-welfare organizations to keep families together in safe and culturally appropriate environments—Westcoast Family Centres affirms its unwavering commitment to this vital work.  

We provide Indigenous-focused, intensive support services to both urban and on-reserve families. Our approach is guided by an Indigenous lens that honours traditional knowledge, cultural values, and community-led practices. This framework allows us to support families in ways that are not only safe but deeply meaningful and culturally affirming.  

The spaces we create for this work are intentionally attuned to Coast Salish and Metis ways of being, fostering a sense of calm, belonging, and safety—especially within systems that can often feel intimidating or uncertain. By centering Indigenous worldviews and relational approaches, we help strengthen family bonds and uphold the dignity and identity of Indigenous children and caregivers, wherever they reside.  

Westcoast Family Centres remains deeply committed to reconciliation, cultural preservation, and the well-being of Indigenous families through respectful, trauma-informed, and community-driven practices.  

Call to Action – Education #7

Westcoast Family Centres is committed to reconciliation through education and culturally attuned practices. In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #7, we have taken the following steps:  

· Indigenous Recruitment & Retention Policy  

· Developed and implemented a comprehensive, culturally grounded policy  

· Actively recruit from Indigenous-specific institutions  

· Hire individuals with formal education and lived experience  

· Professional Development for Indigenous Peoples  

· Support Indigenous staff through mentorship, training, and leadership pathways  

· Use culturally informed performance reviews to support growth  

· Culturally Safe Onboarding & Orientation  

· New staff meet with Aaron Rivard, our Cultural Coordinator.  

· Orientation includes education on history, Indigenous rights, and relational practice.  

· Decolonizing Practice  

· Redesigned consent processes to reduce barriers (e.g., fewer signatures, witness-only)  

· Recognize traditional names and practices in internal systems and reporting  

· Make intentional, values-based decisions to challenge colonial norms  

· Strength-Based Approach  

· View families as experts in their own lives  

· Honour and uplift the unique gifts each individual brings.  

· Promote inclusive participation and cultural safety in all programs  

· Community Partnerships  

· Collaborate with Indigenous organizations (e.g., VACFSS, MCFD, Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society)  

· Share an Elders roster to support culturally safe service delivery  

Westcoast Family Centres stands firmly in its commitment to reconciliation, embracing Indigenous ways of being and doing in all aspects of our work.   

Call to Action – Professional Development #7

Westcoast Family Centres is deeply committed to advancing reconciliation through education, relationship-building, and culturally safe practices. In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #57, we have taken meaningful steps to ensure our staff are informed, accountable, and respectful in their work with Indigenous communities.  

Education and Legislative Alignment  

Many of our staff are well-versed in British Columbia’s legislation adopting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). We go beyond compliance by ensuring staff understand the legislation, uphold it in practice, and advocate for clients when rights are at risk.  

Culturally Grounded Onboarding  

All new staff participate in a revised orientation process that includes meeting with our Indigenous Cultural Advisor, Aaron Rivard, during the on-boarding process. This fosters early relationship-building and cultural understanding, setting the tone for respectful and informed service delivery.  

Indigenous Recruitment and Retention  

We have developed and implemented a comprehensive Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Policy to ensure we are living into our commitment to reconciliation.  

This includes:  

· Actively recruiting from Indigenous-specific institutions  

· Hiring individuals with formal education and lived experience  

· Conducting culturally informed performance reviews  

· Using tools like our “ISC Domain Questionnaire” to assess staff knowledge and experience with Indigenous communities  

Mandatory Training and Relationship Building  

We are sourcing and developing training modules focused on colonization, cultural safety, and reconciliation. Staff are supported in building relationships with local Indigenous Elders, communities, and organizations. Notably, we share a joint Elders roster with partners such as VACFSS, MCFD, and Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society.  

This statement reflects our ongoing commitment to reconciliation, cultural safety, and respectful engagement with Indigenous peoples. We continue to listen, learn, and evolve in partnership with the communities we serve.  

Call to Action – Sport and Physical Activity #90–91 & Call to Action – Business Reconciliation – #92 (i, ii, 2.iii)

Westcoast Family Centres recognizes and affirms the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, particularly those directed toward the corporate sector and the promotion of inclusive physical activity and sport. Our organization is committed to advancing reconciliation through meaningful, sustained action.  

In alignment with British Columbia’s legislation, Westcoast Family Centres has formally adopted the principles of UNDRIP as a foundational framework for our organizational policies and practices. Our staff are well-versed in the legislation and actively uphold the rights of Indigenous clients and families, ensuring that our services reflect respect, dignity, and cultural safety.  

Westcoast Family Centres has implemented a new Indigenous Recruitment Policy that prioritizes equitable access to employment and professional development. We are proud to work alongside Indigenous peoples by hiring individuals with both formal education and lived experience. This approach not only strengthens our team but also ensures that our services are informed by Indigenous perspectives and knowledge systems.  

In response to Calls to Action #90 and #91, Westcoast Family Centres supports culturally inclusive physical activity through our Building Blocks program, which provides families with access to sports and recreational opportunities that promote holistic health and well-being.  

We also collaborate with community-based initiatives such as:  

· Jumpstart (Canadian Tire) – supporting children’s access to organized sports regardless of financial barriers.  

· Kids Up Front – enabling children, youth, and families to attend sporting and cultural events that might otherwise be inaccessible due to cost.  

These partnerships reflect our commitment to reducing barriers and fostering inclusive, culturally relevant opportunities for physical activity and community engagement.  

Call to Action – Child Welfare #5

In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #5, Westcoast Family Centres has taken proactive steps to support Indigenous families through culturally safe and relevant parenting programs.  

While this Call to Action is directed at government, Westcoast has stepped into this space with purpose and care by developing culturally attuned parenting supports that reflect Indigenous values, languages, and practices  

· Programs & Supports Offered  

· Indigenous Children’s Groups – culturally grounded programming for children  

· Indigenous Connection Family Dinners – fostering community and cultural connection  

· Indigenous Counsellors – providing support rooted in cultural knowledge and lived experience in addition to formal education.  

· Funding & Community Engagement  

· We actively seek Indigenous-specific funding to expand services.  

· Our programs are designed in response to the high number of Indigenous referrals and families we serve.  

· Decolonizing Practice  

· We embrace traditional ways of being and doing in our work and seek out 

ways to change formal processes to reflect this.  

· Our systems recognize traditional names and practices and our staff work hard to correctly use proper traditional names.  

· Consent processes have been redesigned to reduce barriers—requiring only a witness, not multiple signatures  

Westcoast Family Centres is committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces where Indigenous families are supported through culturally respectful and empowering approaches to parenting.