Confronting Our Past

In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Office of Indigenous Directions invites the university community to participate in a day of reflection and learning, following the publication of a long-awaited report, Exploring Concordia’s Colonial Past.

Join us for a panel discussion about the report and its finding will be moderated by Peter Gossage, with the participation of the report’s author, Colby Gobert, and Donna Kahérakwas Goodleaf. 

About the report: 

In 2021, Concordia commissioned then doctoral student  Colby Gaudet  to investigate the university’s historical foundations and produce a report that would help situate the university’s past within the wider context of colonialism and Indigenous experiences.  

The research focused on the Grey Nuns, whose former motherhouse is part of Concordia’s campus, the founding institutions of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University and their respective connections to the Jesuits and the YMCA, all of which played roles in broader colonial systems in Canada.  

By examining these histories, the report invites the Concordia community to reflect on the university’s past and to support ongoing efforts toward reconciliation and decolonization. 

The report will be available for download on September 30th, 2026.

How can you participate? Join us in person or online by registering for the Zoom Meeting or watching live on YouTube.

Have questions or if we can make this event more accessible for you: Contact us at info.4@concordia.ca