Last month, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its historic final report. Included in the report are 94 Calls to Action, a number of which either directly or indirectly relate to universities across Canada.

President Meric Gertler and I are striking a University-wide Steering Committee with a primary mandate to review the Calls to Action and begin implementation of those that fall within the University’s mission and mandate.

The Committee will be co-chaired by Professor Stephen Toope, Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs, and Jonathan Hamilton-Diabo, Director, Aboriginal Student Services at First Nations House and Coordinator, Council for Aboriginal Initiatives. We are fortunate to be able to engage the assistance of Elders Lee Maracle and Andrew Wesley who have agreed to offer their guidance and wisdom to the Committee.

The Committee will be supported by assessors Professor Sandy Welsh, Vice-Provost Students, and Professor Sioban Nelson, Vice-Provost Academic Programs and Vice-Provost Faculty and Academic Life, and will work closely with academic divisions and other stakeholders, following the appended TRC Terms of Reference. We are aware that a number of divisions have already begun work on recommendations that involve them directly and look forward to hearing from these groups. The Committee is asked to present an Interim Report to me and the President by July 1, 2016, and a final report by December 31, 2016. Additional issues for consideration by the Committee will be to make recommendations on recruitment of and support for Indigenous students, faculty, and staff at the University, and the inclusion of Indigenous research, themes, and issues in the University’s sesquicentennial celebrations beginning in 2017.

The President and I invite nominations for faculty, staff, and student members of the Steering Committee, which will begin meeting in February. Nominations for this committee may be submitted, by email, to Andrea Russell, Director, Academic Affairs (andrea.russell@utoronto.ca) by January 25, 2016.

Appended TRC Terms of Reference