National Day for Truth
and Reconciliation

4th Annual
GSPS Relay

Can you step up for the challenge?September 2025

Greater Subdury Police Service

Annual Relay for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

We are honoured to come together as a community to commemorate this important day and engage in meaningful actions that promote truth, healing, and reconciliation. In collaboration with Indigenous communities, this event aims to raise awareness, foster understanding, and demonstrate our commitment to addressing the legacy of residential schools in Canada.

NDTR

Annual Relay

The Relay for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a symbolic event that aims to create a space for reflection, education, and solidarity. Participants are invited to join us in a physical or virtual relay, symbolizing the journey toward reconciliation.

During the relay, we encourage individuals, families, and organizations to participate by walking, running, or engaging in other activities to demonstrate their commitment to truth and reconciliation. Together, we can raise awareness, share stories, and work towards a future of mutual understanding and respect.

why step up?

We all stand in unity

We are running for all the child victims of Canadian Residential schools who endured unimaginable trauma; and for all the families whose lives were forever changed as they watched their children being taken away. Since the onset of colonization and through decades of intergenerational trauma, we acknowledge the role that Police played in systemic racism and we know that there is much work to be done in order to repair and heal the relationship between Police and the Indigenous community.

Resources for Kids

We believe that young minds have the power to shape a more inclusive and understanding world. Here, you will find a collection of age-appropriate materials and activities that aim to educate, inspire, and promote empathy and reconciliation.

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Resources for Adults

Thoughtfully curated to provide you with valuable information, insights, and tools to engage meaningfully in the journey towards healing and reconciliation with Indigenous communities.

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Calls to Action

As part of our commitment to advancing truth and reconciliation, we have compiled a comprehensive list of calls to action that provide a roadmap for individuals, organizations, and governments to take meaningful steps towards healing and fostering positive change.

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Embrace the Power of Community Relay

Nurturing Physical and Mental Well-being

Achieving Fitness, Resilience, and Social Connection for a Meaningful Cause

Participating in a community relay offers a holistic experience, benefiting both the physical and mental well-being of individuals while creating a platform for awareness, advocacy, and personal growth.

Mental Well-being & Emotional Resilience

  • Improved cardiovascular endurance: Engaging in a relay involves physical activity such as walking, running, or jogging, which helps improve cardiovascular health, stamina, and overall fitness.
  • trengthens muscles and bones: Regular participation in the relay can contribute to the strengthening of muscles and bones, promoting better posture, balance, and overall physical strength.
  • Boosts energy levels: Engaging in physical activity releases endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” hormones, which can boost energy levels, reduce stress, and improve overall mood.

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Physical Health and Fitness
 

  • Stress reduction: Participating in a community relay offers an opportunity to disconnect from daily stressors, promoting relaxation and a sense of well-being. Physical activity also releases tension and helps alleviate symptoms of stress.
  • Sense of achievement and self-confidence: Completing a relay, whether individually or as part of a team, can instill a sense of accomplishment and boost self-confidence, contributing to improved mental well-being and self-esteem.
  • Connection and social support: Engaging in a community relay provides opportunities for social connection and support. Interacting with others who share a common goal fosters a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and community spirit.

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Awareness and Advocacy
 

  • Promoting a meaningful cause: Participating in a community relay raises awareness about important social issues, such as truth and reconciliation. By actively engaging in the relay, participants become advocates for change, contributing to the ongoing conversation and fostering a more inclusive society.
  • Education and personal growth: The relay can provide a platform for learning about Indigenous cultures, histories, and experiences, promoting personal growth, empathy, and understanding.
  • Inspiring others: By participating in the relay, individuals can serve as role models, inspiring others to engage in physical activity, support important causes, and work towards personal and collective growth.

Greater City, Greater Community

 Greater Solidarity

30

Organizations

616

Participants

113,075

Kilometres Pledged

53,214.22

Kilometres Traveled

Our Valued

Community Partners

We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all our community partners who have been instrumental in making this event possible. Your support, dedication, and collaboration have played a vital role in bringing our vision to life.

We would like to extend a special acknowledgment to the Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre. Their unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions have helped shape the success of this community event. Their partnership has been pivotal in driving our shared mission of truth, healing, and reconciliation.

We would like to emphasize that the support of each and every partner has been crucial in creating a meaningful and inclusive experience for all participants. We are grateful for the collective efforts and collaborative spirit that have united us in this important endeavor.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre and all our community partners for their continued support, dedication, and belief in the power of coming together as a community to promote positive change. It is through partnerships like these that we can make a lasting impact and work towards a more just and inclusive society.

Our Collaborative

Network of Support

Members who are participating in the Relay

And why they decided to participate

Why did you volunteer to participate in the Truth and Reconciliation Relay?

I wanted to show my support, appreciation and respect for the First Nations people and everything they have experienced.

 

Catrina Miller

What Call to Action did you choose, and why?

(Of the 94 Calls to Action brought forward by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada) Call to Action 8; We call upon the federal government to eliminate the discrepancy in federal education funding for First Nations children being educated on reserves and those First Nations children being education off reserves.

 

Catrina Miller

What does Reconciliation mean to you?

Reconciliation means healing. It means having support, and having the steps put in place to succeed moving forward. I believe that this is deserved and owed to the First Nations people.

 

Catrina Miller

How do you hope to contribute to positive change, as an individual and as part of the GSPS?

I hope this helps to encourage knowledge, learning and reflection for others as well as myself.

 

Catrina Miller

Why did you volunteer to participate in the Truth and Reconciliation Relay?

As a Canadian and a member of the Metis’ Nation of Ontario, I felt a responsibility to support our indigenous community as well as our indigenous officers in their quest for truth and reconciliation in for what their people have endured through our life time.

 

Constable James Jefferson

What Call to Action did you choose, and why?

I chose Action 21; I believe the Government has to provide funding for existing and new healing centers to address the generation trauma caused by the residential schools. People need healing.

 

Constable James Jefferson

What does Reconciliation mean to you?

Reconciliation to me means healing the wounds of generation trauma through the acknowledgment of truth in what our indigenous people endured along with decisive action to make amends through the 94 calls to action.

 

Constable James Jefferson

How do you hope to contribute to positive change, as an individual and as part of the GSPS?

I feel a responsibility to bring awareness and pay tribute to the children who endured the hardship of residential schools because every child matters.

 

Constable James Jefferson

Why did you volunteer to participate in the Truth and Reconciliation Relay?

I volunteered to participate in the Truth and Reconciliation Relay to support my brothers and sisters from my GSPS family. As a privileged person, I also feel I have a responsibility to support the members of our community who have suffered so much trauma over the years.

 

Sergeant Matt Hall

Which Call to Action speaks to you, and why?

After reading all 94 Calls to Action, it’s hard to pick just one as they are all very important and it’s astonishing that we even have to discuss these issues in 2022. However, as a father, I would have to say #3 (Jordan’s Principle) really hit home as no child or parent or family should ever have to endure that trauma.

 

Sergeant Matt Hall

What does Reconciliation mean to you?

Reconciliation to me means acknowledging one’s wrongdoings (intentional or not) and working together to heal, learn from the past and work toward a better future for all.

 

Sergeant Matt Hall

How do you hope to contribute to positive change, as an individual and as part of the GSPS?

I hope to bring more awareness by recognizing past and present issues, understanding the trauma that was caused and paying tribute to Indigenous community members who have suffered for generations, as we move forward, because everyone matters.

 

Sergeant Matt Hall