The St. Anne’s Christmas Bazaar has become a household event in Ottawa over the last decade. This annual marketplace of local vendors, holiday festivities, children’s corners and a silent auction, has Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members alike looking forward to gathering in celebration and holiday spirit each year. As the St. Anne’s Christmas Bazaar is set to return in 2025 for its 11th year, St. Anne’s is looking to give back and recognize those who have made this event a success.

The Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO) oversees 39 elementary schools and serves eight counties throughout urban and rural areas of Ontario. Despite the sizeable area the CDSBEO covers, many rural schools still struggle to connect with Indigenous communities, reach youth and provide culturally grounded education.

From the communities that shape us to the families that guide us, our sense of identity is formed from our immediate surroundings. For Indigenous youth, these formative pillars have faced cultural erosion. The loss of language, oral history and traditional roles, particularly those of Clan Mothers, has left many disconnected from their identity.

Language, storytelling, traditional foods and shared culture connect Indigenous Peoples to their ancestors. Passed down from generation to generation, Indigenous traditions have persevered despite the systemic challenges their peoples have faced. For many, the path to healing begins by creating spaces where trauma can be acknowledged, resilience can be celebrated and knowledge can be shared.

Once again, the educational documentary “The Cost of Silence – #USTOO” is returning to make an even greater impact. This documentary features two editions and amplifies the voices of childhood sexual abuse survivors, particularly male survivors, who have suffered from inaction, silence and isolation for too long.

Every child deserves an engaging, stimulating and supportive learning environment. In fact, studies show that students not reading at grade level by Grade 3 are four times more likely not to graduate high school. Indigenous children are much more at risk of falling into this statistic than any other demographic due to a myriad of factors, including the intergenerational impacts of residential schools, discrimination within classrooms, limited or no access to school and more.

Speeding might seem like a minor offence, but it’s the most common traffic violation in Canada, and one that can have deadly consequences. In school zones, residential areas, and at crosswalks, the risks are especially high. For rural communities like Alderville First Nation, the dangers are even greater, with many roads lacking sidewalks, lighting, and proper traffic enforcement.

A new life chapter begins the second a fresh-faced student walks through the doors of their post-secondary institution. Marking the shift from adolescence to adulthood, it can be incredibly daunting for young people to enter such unfamiliar territory. For Indigenous students, especially those traveling from remote communities to urban centres, the experience can be even more challenging. These students need extra support to build relationships and find their community as they adjust to university life.

Considered a cultural mosaic woven together by diverse cultures from around the world, the ethos of Canada has been founded on inclusion, openness and respect. Newcomers arrive with the hope that no matter where they come from, they will be welcomed. However, Indigenous cultures shaped these lands long before settlers arrived, whose traditions survived despite the impacts of colonization. Integrating Indigenous knowledge with educational practices for new Canadians is key in working towards reconciliation right from an individual’s first steps onto this land.

Mother Nature is becoming more volatile, with unpredictable temperature swings and extreme weather events on the rise. As the effects of climate change grow more visible, many structures, especially those not built to withstand these conditions, are suffering damage, erosion, and decay.