CANADORE COLLEGE
Canadore College Panthers Walk for Wenjack

Canadore College advanced its commitment to truth and reconciliation by hosting its inaugural Walk for Wenjack on Friday, December 5. Thirty participants completed laps inside the Canadore Dome at the Commerce Court Campus, raising more than $1,200 in support of the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF). Beyond fundraising, the event aimed to deepen understanding of the legacy of Canada's residential school system and promote ongoing learning within the college community.

"Hosting a Walk for Wenjack allowed our college community to come together in a meaningful, reflective way to honour Chanie Wenjack, recognize the history and impacts of residential schools, and support healing across generations," said Rebecca Morin, Canadore Students' Council Government Coordinator.

Chanie Wenjack was a 12-year-old Anishinaabe boy who died in 1966 after fleeing a residential school. He succumbed to hunger and exposure while attempting to return to his family more than 600 kilometres away. The first Walk for Wenjack was held in 2016 and retraced his final journey from Kenora to Farlane.

The Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund is a national charity dedicated to improving the lives of Indigenous Peoples and advancing reconciliation through awareness, education, and action. Established in memory of Gord Downie, the late lead singer of The Tragically Hip, and Chanie Wenjack, the Fund continues to inspire Canadians to engage meaningfully in reconciliation efforts. In November, Canadore College opened a DWF Legacy Space at the main entrance of its College Drive Campus a dedicated area for storytelling, listening, and learning.

"The collaboration with the Downie Wenjack Fund has reaffirmed Canadore's dedication to creating inclusive spaces for dialogue, learning, and reflection, and to building stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples," said George Burton, President and CEO of Canadore College. "The Walk for Wenjack is one example of how we put that commitment into action."