Location: Sheridan College, Trafalgar Campus

Invocation: Susan Sheppard

Sheridan College guests in attendance included:

Cindy Brown, President & Vice-Chancellor, United College / Sheridan College

Amy Reader, Associate Vice-President, Office of Indigenous Education & Engagement (OIEE) - Keynote Speaker

Randi Jacob, Indigenous Engagement & Education Specialist, Mi'kmaq First Nation

Sydney Brown, Indigenous Engagement & Education Coordinator, OIEE (from Fisher River Cree Nation, Treaty 5 Territory, Manitoba)

Alexis Daybutch, Indigenous Engagement & Recruitment Advisor, OIEE

Holly (OIEE team member)

Rotary Scholarship Recipients (Sheridan College):

Members in Attendance: No. 21

Birthdays of the Month - 6:40 pm

Happy birthday wishes to members celebrating this month: Mahendra Shah, Kal Zaid-Kaylani, Adriana Sanchez, Amin Kawar, Sid Joshi, and Ruby Habesch.

Keynote Presentation - 6:45 pm

Speaker: Amy Reader, Associate Vice-President, Office of Indigenous Education & Engagement (OIEE), Sheridan College

Amy Reader introduced the OIEE team and provided an engaging overview of the office's mandate and recent initiatives. Key points included:

The OIEE was established approximately two years ago, working in close collaboration with the Centre for Indigenous Learning and Support

The office focuses on strategies, partnerships, community-building, policies, and holistic support for Indigenous learners, with an emphasis on building belonging and post-COVID reconnection for all Sheridan students

Randi Jacob (Mi’kmaq First Nation) - Indigenous Engagement & Education Specialist

Sydney Brown (Fisher River Cree Nation, Manitoba) - Indigenous Engagement & Education Coordinator and a graduate of Sheridan’s Musical Theatre program

Alexis Daybutch - Indigenous Engagement & Recruitment Advisor; shared a heartfelt story of her Rotary Youth Exchange to Mexico at age 17, which she credited as life-changing, leading her to spend her 20s travelling the world and learning languages

​Highlights and Initiatives:

Beading workshops held on Red Dress Day to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Regular “Three Sisters” soup and chili days to promote food sovereignty and student connection

Thunderbird pins presented to graduating Indigenous students to honour their journey

Collaboration with Rick Hill (artist and storyteller-in-residence) for workshops with faculty and staff, and a visit to a converted residential school museum on September 30

MOU with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation to create a video land acknowledgement, featuring Chief Claire Salt, for use at Sheridan convocations and special events

Launching “Four Seasons of Reconciliation”: a free, self-paced online cultural competency module available to all Sheridan staff, faculty, and community members

Indigenous-curated book selections in Sheridan libraries, identified with a Dream Catcher logo

Indigenous Pathways Week - an expanded residential experience for Indigenous high school students to explore arts programs at Trafalgar Campus

Partnership with Six Nations Polytechnic - a 14-week Construction Techniques Certificate program bringing Sheridan programming into the community; RCO’s donation will fund laptops for students in this program

Amy expressed heartfelt gratitude for RCO’s ongoing support of Sheridan students and the OIEE’s work.

Speaker thanked by: George Vincent

Happy Bucks: by Susan Sheppard

Members shared happy moments from around the tables: George delighted in a FaceTime call where their 11-month-old granddaughter crawled toward the phone to say hello. Rod was genuinely pleased to have finally gone grocery shopping after a long hiatus and actually enjoyed it. A member was happy to have met the Sheridan students and OIEE team. Ralf celebrated the beautiful diversity in the room, members from different countries, provinces, and backgrounds all sharing introductions at the various tables in the Anishinaabemowin Indigenous language. A member was thrilled that their daughter is considering joining Rotary. Mark was relieved and happy that his son-in-law and daughter, who had been hiking in the mountains of Mexico for five weeks, were due home on Friday. A guest of Neeraj attending their first ever Rotary meeting as a guest was warmly welcomed. Lynn was happy for a recent weekend concert she attended with her daughters and their partners, enjoying the chance to connect with them as individuals, not just as “mom”.

Dr. Cindy Gouveia expressed deep gratitude for being part of the evening and for RCO’s support of Sheridan’s Indigenous students, and shared her humility at stepping into her new role as President and Vice-Provost.

Announcements, Recent & Upcoming Events - 7:45 pm

Coldest Night of the Year - Susan Sheppard

Susan reported on RCO’s participation in Oakville’s Coldest Night of the Year walk. Six Rotarians, Amin, Aninda, Neeraj, Ralf, Silvia, and Susan, completed the walk and raised over $2,000, more than double their original goal. Funds were donated to Front Line Outreach. The overall campaign goal is $40,000 and is very close to being reached; donations remain open until late March for anyone wishing to contribute.

​Other Upcoming Events:

Global Medic: 21 March, 10 am - 12 pm: monthly repackaging of rice and beans for impoverished communities and local food banks (1494 Wallace Rd. Oakville)

RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy): April 30-May 3, four-day leadership camp; RCO has approved funding for two youth participants; contact Ralf

Club Leadership Training:  April 13; beneficial for all members personally and for Rotary

Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW) Annual Breakfast Fundraiser: Royal York Hotel, May 8th; carpooling available through Ralf

Oakville Rotary Education Awards (OREA): expanding to fund 24 graduating high school students at $5,000 each; volunteers needed through end of June; contact Ralf or Peter DeGroot

Earth Day Cleanup: Valleybrook Park and Morrison Woodward Diversion Channel (Eighth Line & Falderwood), April 18th, organized by Karla

 

Youth Committee Meeting: Thursday via Zoom; new volunteers welcome

​Remarks of Gratitude by George Vincent: Before closing, George Vincent expressing gratitude for this gathering mentioned that decisions such as the club’s funding of the Six Nations Polytechnic-Sheridan collaboration happen at the committee level, and that this particular evening originated with RCO’s Indigenous Committee, whose goals include improving understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and improving the lives of Indigenous people. Expressed special thanks to Yanick, Sadie, and Ainsley for attending and sharing their experiences as scholarship recipients; to Cedar Spoon and Sydney for describing the Indigenous-inspired meal (“more than one person said it sure beats the Holiday Inn!”). Special thanks to Lindsay of RCO’s Indigenous Committee for coordinating the entire evening. George closed by affirming RCO’s pride in and appreciation for everything Sheridan does across its faculties and programs.

​Closing:

The meeting closed with the Rotary Four-Way Test, led by Lynn, followed by a Toast to Friends and Rotarians Around the World.

Next RCO Meeting: 16 March, Holiday Inn Bronte