In Feb 2021 Lake Ridge committed to embarking on a journey of self-reflection on the diversity, equity and belonging practices for our staff and services. We asked staff to express interest in walking this journey with us. The response was overwhelming. We have a team of staff that are committed to a  vision of diversity, equity and belonging that truly reflects Lake Ridge’s culture. In April 2021, The Board of Directors approved our diversity, equity and belonging vision statement: 

“Lake Ridge Community Support Services is committed to providing an environment that fosters compassion and creates a community of belonging in which employees and service recipients feel supported and respected”.

One of the objectives of the Diversity, Equity and Belonging Committee was to develop a land acknowledgement that would truly reflect our indigenous community and our services. We did this by researching the indigenous ancestries of our community, learning about treaties, as well as consulting with knowledge keepers from the indigenous community. In September 2021 our Land Acknowledgement statement was gifted to us by an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper. 

Our land acknowledgement statement:

Lake Ridge Community Support Services acknowledges and honours the First Nations people that have called this land home since time immemorial. 

We acknowledge the Treaty people of this land, the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We acknowledge and honour the greater space of Turtle Island of which we are a part of. We acknowledge and respect our relationship with Mother Earth, the original nations of the trees and plants, the four leggeds, the finned, the flyers and the crawlers, the waters, and the four winds. 

We are committed to continue to learn, and incorporate the history and teachings of Indigenous communities from across Turtle Island into our services, to support and contribute to reconciliation while building better and stronger relationships with the Indigenous community.  

What Next? 

The diversity, equity and belonging committee will be asking all our staff to adopt this land acknowledgment and share in team meetings, training events and meetings in which LRCSS’ hosts. This land acknowledgement will now become part of our LRCSS’ culture.