What We Do

Reconciliation in Action

• In honour of Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Caring Society partnered with Assembly of Seven Generations and Beechwood Cemetery to host an event on September 30 in Ottawa that was attended by over 1,000 people.
• We hosted our annual Have a Heart Day event, which was celebrated with more than 800 local students. Over 40 schools, workplaces, and organizations held events nationwide, with a collective effort of 4,000 letters mailed to the Prime Minister’s Office.
• #BearWitnessDay and #JordansPrinciple were trending on Twitter on Bear Witness Day as individuals, groups, communities, schools, and workplaces honoured Jordan River Anderson and learned about Jordan’s Principle.
• To support community participation in Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams, we distributed more than 500 packets of wildflower seeds across Canada! These were used to plant Heart Gardens in honour of residential school survivors.
• In honour of residential school survivors and to support the legacy of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, over 750 hearts were planted in heart gardens hosted by schools, organizations community centres and workplaces.

Spirit Bear and Friends

• Spirit Bear and friends cut the ribbon on a Spirit Bear exhibit at The Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre in Prince George, BC!
• Spirit Bear released not one but TWO animated films and launched Spirit Bear TV. Spirit Bear’s third film, Spirit Bear: Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams, was released in November 2023, and his fourth film, Spirit Bear: Echoes of the Past, hit the big screens in June 2024.
• Since its launch in July 2022, we’ve released 11 episodes in the Ask an Expert second season as part of our Spirit Bear Podcast.
• Over 2,000 copies of Spirit Bear’s 2024 calendar, Spirit Bear’s Guide to Reconciliation, were distributed to individuals, child and family service agencies, school boards, and educators across Canada. 
• Spirit Bear’s four children’s books continue to be made available for free online in English, French, and some First Nations languages, and we have sold over 3,500 copies of Spirit Bear’s books, with all proceeds supporting child-and youth-led reconciliation initiatives.
• Ten Reconciliation Ambearristers found new homes in schools and community centers across Canada, with some going as far as elementary schools in Sweden! Each hosted bear accompanies the group as they learn about and promote the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.

Big Win for the Kids

• The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has issued 28 noncompliance and procedural orders since the 2016 landmark ruling, one of which was issued this past year.
• Jordan’s Principle continues to be positive and life-changing for First Nations children and their families. In an effort to ensure Canada ceases its discrimination and complies with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s orders, the Caring Society filed a non-compliance motion on Jordan’s Principle in December 2023.
• The Caring Society intervened on the appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada regarding An Act Respecting First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children, youth, and families with the position that, despite its shortcomings, the Act is constitutional. The Caring Society honours all those who argued in favour of justice for Indigenous children in this important case.

Making New Friends

• Through our awards and scholarships, we were able to recognize 16 fantastic schools and individuals who are taking action towards reconciliation and ensuring equity for First Nations children.
• We completed over 95 virtual and in-person presentations in 10 provinces and four countries! 
• The Caring Society now has more than 77,510 social media friends, gaining followers across Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram platforms.
• We participated in over 100 media engagements, appearing in both Canadian and international media.
• We published four newsletters featuring over 35 articles. We distributed newsletters to over 250 First Nations Child and Family Service Agencies, Caring Society members, and educators.