From the start of National Indigenous History Month, to Downtown Guelph restaurant renovations, here is what we saw in the news this week.
What reconciliation looks like this year during Indigenous History Month
National Indigenous History Month marks a point of celebration for the contributions of Indigenous peoples across the country as well as an opportunity for Canadians to broaden their understanding and respect for the diverse cultures of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
The month was tragically preceded by the discovery of a mass grave at the former Kamloops Residential School on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc which held the remains of 215 Indigenous children, some as young as three years old. This finding is an unfortunate reminder of the work still laid out for Catholic institutions and the Canadian government in upholding truth and reconciliation for their participation in injustices against Indigenous peoples.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement urging all to acknowledge and address “historical and ongoing wrongs,” before announcing a new government investment.
“Over the past year, the global COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and deepened social, health, and economic disparities for Indigenous peoples,” said Trudeau.
“In Budget 2021, the government is proposing a historic, new investment of over $18 billion over the next five years to support healthy, safe, and prosperous Indigenous communities, close gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and advance meaningful reconciliation.”
Further, Trudeau encouraged Canadians to “learn more about and reflect on how Indigenous peoples continue to shape our diverse country” through #IndigenousReads, a reading list containing works by Indigenous authors.
Cara Wehkamp, special adviser to the president on Indigenous initiatives at the University of Guelph, said in a news release that National Indigenous History Month is not only a chance to participate and engage in activities during June, but it’s also a “starting point” to hear Indigenous peoples’ stories and build relationships with their knowledge and legacies year round.
“[Redressing the damage of colonial practices] includes a need to assist with unearthing past wrongs, educating on the truth and actively addressing colonial injustices,” said Wehkamp.
“It also requires creating spaces where First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and communities can engage with education and research that upholds their inherent rights and identities and allows them to flourish.”
U of G will be honouring Indigenous culture by featuring content from Indigenous researchers, including a McLaughlin Library collection, Exploring Indigenous Narratives and Worldviews.
Prepping for pride and allyship
For this year’s Pride Month, Guelph organizations are hosting virtual events and launching tools to celebrate LGBTQ2SIA+ communities as well as inform residents about diversity and inclusion.
Guelph Pride is responsible for most official local events during pride season.
This year, they’ve organized a significant variety of virtual events for the entire first half of June as part of the Spring Pride Festival, ranging from colouring page exhibits and poetry sessions, to beer brewing lessons and paint nights. BIPOC-focused events are also included, such as a creative writing workshop and an evening of music and literature.
The list of events for their Spring Pride Festival can be found on their website and includes activities for residents of all ages to enjoy. Supplies for most events are free, and the virtual format means it is unlikely for any events to be cancelled due to pandemic restrictions.
The University of Guelph is also making strides in its allyship towards LGBTQ2SIA+ initiatives.
According to a U of G news release, the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics is helping in the launch of the Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benchmarks (GDEIB) document, a list of organizational standards that will create more equitable environments in businesses, education, and governments around the world.
Past efforts have been made to establish the benchmarks, but organizations often lacked resources and addressed other priorities which postponed the release of the document.
The university is also home to the Sexual and Gender Diversity Research Lab, founded by Dr. Amy Ellard-Gray and Professor Thomas Sasso when they were graduate students.
There, a “supportive, interdisciplinary environment” helps people study inclusive practices and methodologies for community-based research.
COVID-19 variants given new names by WHO
Following the increasing number of COVID-19 variants, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a new set of names for four variants.
Using the Greek alphabet, WHO will now be referring to the variants in order of their discovery as opposed to their technical names, such as B117 or B1617. Thus, Alpha, Betta, Gamma, and Delta will replace the numbered and/or geographic names of the variants first discovered in the U.K., South Africa, Brazil, and India, respectively.
If additional variants emerge that become a significant enough concern, they will likely be named by the letters of the Greek alphabet that follow Delta.
In the past, viruses were frequently named after the locations that were thought to have been their point of origin, such as with the Spanish flu — although its origins actually remain uncertain. This naming method can damage the reputations of these regions, and WHO officials claim they don’t want to discourage countries from reporting COVID-19 variants, according to CBC News.
Therefore, WHO chose to use Greek influence for the renaming instead, having even considered the names of Greek gods after several months of deliberation.
Experts agree this will not only cause less confusion than the usage of scientific names, but it will also prompt fewer opportunities for stigmatization to grow by avoiding region-based names.
Memoirs and fiction: Two Guelph authors receive Governor General’s Literary Award
Two Guelph authors, Madhur Anand and Eric Walters, were awarded the 2020 Governor General’s Literary Award for English language texts after being chosen as two of 70 finalists across all categories.
Due to COVID-19, the Canadian Council of Arts was delayed in their announcement of the 2020 winners.
Anand, a U of G professor of environmental sciences as well as an ecologist and poet, wrote This Red Line Goes Straight to Your Heart: A Memoir in Halves, which is an experimental memoir.
According to Guelph Today, the book is divided into two parts, the first being written from Anand’s mother and father’s perspective, and the second being written from Anand’s perspective.
The story is about immigration and generational storytelling, and it won the non-fiction category of the award.
The King of Jam Sandwiches won the young people’s literature-text category. As an experienced children’s book writer since 1994, Walters partly based the story on his own experiences, focusing on themes of poverty and mental illness.
Unlike Anand’s book, Walters’ text is fictional, telling the tale of a young boy who fears being taken to foster care for his father’s unusual behaviours.
As award recipients, both Anand and Walters will receive $25,000 respectively, and their publishing companies will each receive $3,000 as well.
Thomas King, Guelph author and former Governor General award winner, was also selected as a finalist for his book Indians on Vacation, a fictional story about travel and personal history.
The 2021 Governor General winners are expected to be announced this fall.
Downtown businesses keep busy with renovations during provincial closures
While local businesses remained closed during Ontario’s emergency brake measures, some made use of their off-time through service expansions and renovations.
The Albion Hotel is just one of many downtown businesses to utilize province-wide shutdowns for “a complete gut and restorations,” according to a Guelph Today article.
A 1920s style “world-class cafe” will open on the main floor of the Albion, each side decorated with L.A. and New York influences respectively.
Most of its construction is already finished with little left but wall and ceiling replacements to complete. The building’s stone infrastructure has also been restored, making the first floor look like it did “in the 1800s.” The second floor is expected to primarily consist of office spaces.
Pandemic-permitting, the Albion is expected to open for indoor dining this August.
Other restaurants and pubs have had their share of renovations as well.
Buon Gusto has expanded its dining area to make space for additional customers. Frank and Steins has partnered with Onyx Nightclub, adding a performance stage and revamping its kitchen. Further, a brand new Italian restaurant is expected to debut south of Wyndham Street.
Some properties have made smaller alterations to their businesses, such as the addition of pizza to The Cornerstone’s menu. The restaurant’s exterior is also undergoing some renovations.
With renovations big and small, Guelphites can expect to see some changes in downtown Guelph once the province reopens.
“Some people have taken the opportunity that was forced on them,” said Marty Williams, executive director of the Downtown Guelph Business Association, to Guelph Today. “I think there will be some new fun and interesting things when we actually get back to whatever normal is going to look like.”
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