OCSA Statement - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Today, we join Canadians across the country in marking the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Our thoughts are with residential school survivors, their families and communities, and all who mourn the terrible suffering and loss caused by these institutions. September 30th was chosen to align with Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day honouring the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and those who did not. This day is a direct response to Call to Action 80, from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration. 

This past year has shown Canada has a long history of racial injustice we have yet to fully comprehend or acknowledge as a society. The legacy of Canada’s historic policy of injustice towards Indigenous peoples has resulted in generations of broken families and devastated communities. The consequences of the forcible removable of children from their homes and their communities to residential schools are still reverberating through our society today.

At the Ontario Community Support Association, we acknowledge the inequality that has persisted in our society for generations and the devastating legacy of trauma created by racist institutions and systemic racism in our society. We express our support for all residential school survivors, their families and communities, and all those who have been, and continue to be, affected by this tragic history.

As an association that strives to keep our most vulnerable citizens safe at home and in their communities, we support messages of healing and pledge to work toward an inclusive society in which all individuals are accepted and valued.  

We call on further efforts to fully implement the 94 calls to action made by the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It is only by acknowledging these impacts and their root causes that we can start addressing them. At OCSA, we commit to listening and learning from those who experience systemic racism every day to ensure our actions work towards eliminating it from society and the delivery of our health and social services. 

About OCSA Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) represents close to 230 not-for profit organizations that provide home care and community support services that help seniors and people with disabilities live independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. These compassionate and cost-effective services improve quality of life and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, emergency room visits and premature institutionalization. They are the key to a sustainable health care system for Ontario. 

For more information, visit http://www.ocsa.on.ca and https://twitter.com/OCSAtweets 


Share

More Updates

OCSA Joins Communities Across Ontario to Celebrate March For Meals 2025

By Karla Sealy • March 1, 2025
ONTARIO, March 1, 2025 - This March, the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) is proud to stand with communities across Ontario in support of March for Meals, an annual campaign highlighting the essential role of Meals on Wheels programs. Delivered in 181 communities across the province, these programs provide nutritious meals, social connection, and safety checks for vulnerable seniors and adults with disabilities. Meals on Wheels Ontario, with the support of belairdirect, encourages Ontarians to show their support for March for Meals and the local Meals on Wheels programs that serve their communities. Together, these programs deliver over 3 million meals annually and provide vital assistance to nearly 70,000 Ontarians. As the demand for nutritious and affordable meals grows, so too do the challenges faced by local programs—including underfunding and volunteer shortages. Now more than ever, community support is essential to ensuring these programs continue to provide a lifeline to those who need it most. “Meals on Wheels programs are a cornerstone of home and community care in Ontario, ensuring that seniors and adults with disabilities have access to healthy meals, social connection, and safety checks,” says Deborah Simon, CEO of OCSA. “However, these programs face growing demand and funding challenges. March for Meals is an opportunity for all Ontarians to rally around these essential services and support their sustainability so that no one is left behind.” During the month of March, community-based Meals on Wheels programs across the province will host special events, engage local officials, and encourage community participation to raise awareness and support for these critical services. OCSA invites Ontarians to learn more about the impact of Meals on Wheels and explore ways to get involved. For more information on March for Meals and how you can support your local Meals on Wheels program, visit Meals on Wheels Ontario . About OCSA The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) champions a strong, sustainable home and community care sector in Ontario. The association represents over 220 not-for-profit organizations that deliver high-quality services that help seniors, people with disabilities, and those with complex care needs remain independent in their homes and communities. These proactive and cost-effective services prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, emergency room visits and premature institutionalization. For more information visit www.ocsa.on.ca or @OCSATweets For media inquiries please contact: Karla Sealy (she/her) Manager of Communications 416-256-3010/1-800-267-6272, ext 242 karla.sealy@ocsa.on.ca

Ontarians Want More Investment in Home and Community Care, New Poll Finds

By Karla Sealy • February 24, 2025
Voter support strongly linked to party policies on Home and Community Care

OCSA launches ‘Everyone Needs Home and Community Care’ campaign ahead of 2025 provincial election

By Karla Sealy • January 30, 2025
Calls on all candidates to pledge to support home and community care
More Posts
Share by: