Truth & Reconciliation Week

At SMA, we remain committed to walking alongside Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration. Throughout the entire year, our school community continues to integrate and imbed learning opportunities and activities into various curricula to foster awareness and understanding.

In consultation with our Indigenous Elder, Father Stan Fontaine, we have chosen the sacred teaching of Respect as the focus for the 2025-26 school year. This follows last year’s focus on Humility, where we explored the understanding that we are all equal in the eyes of the Creator. Father Stan believes that, given the current state of upheaval, discord, and polarization in our world, Respect is a timely and fitting choice, deeply aligned with our Catholic values. We continue to be a member of the Manitoba Catholic School Advisory Committee on Truth and Reconciliation with a lead teacher on the committee who works in consultation with our administrative team to enhance understanding and provide valuable feedback for the ongoing work in our school community.

Truth and Reconciliation week will be honoured from September 22 to September 26. During the week, the Human Rights Team will be selling orange Every Child Matters shirts during lunch period outside the cafeteria. The Human Rights Team’s primary focus is to sell orange shirts to students who do not already have one from our sale last year. Students who are new to SMA for the 2025-26 school year will have the opportunity to purchase shirts during these dates. Cost per shirt is $15 (including tax). Cash is the preferred method of payment.

Students and staff are invited to wear an Every Child Matters shirt in honour of Orange Shirt Day on Monday, September 29. Students are expected to wear their regulation uniform, with the Every Child Matters shirt as their top option.