Exploring Concordia's colonial past

Context

Since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its 94 Calls to Action in 2015, universities across Canada have been called to examine their histories and relationships with Indigenous peoples.  

At Concordia, this led to the Indigenous Directions Action Plan in 2019 and the creation of the Office of Indigenous Directions to guide reconciliation and decolonization efforts. A revised Indigenous Directions Action Plan was released in 2021, further outlining the university’s ongoing commitments. The Plan is intended to be a living document with the next update in 2026.

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.  

Research process

The research was commissioned in 2021 and conducted under the guidance of the Office of Indigenous Directions, with oversight from an advisory committee. The committee included: 

• Manon Tremblay, Senior Director, Office of Indigenous Directions 
• Allan Vicaire, Senior Advisor, Office of Indigenous Directions 
• Donna Kahérakwas Goodleaf, Director of Decolonizing Curriculum and Pedagogy, Centre for Teaching and Learning 
• Peter Gossage, Professor, Department of History 

Colby Gaudet conducted a thorough review of a wide range of historical sources, including archives, institutional records, and publications from the founding institutions, the Jesuits, the YMCA and the Grey Nuns. The process involved mapping connections between Concordia’s founding institutions and colonial systems, as well as critically analyzing how historical narratives have been presented over time. 

The report

Through an in-depth examination of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University, and, in light of the university’s acquisition of their motherhouse in 2007, the history of the Grey Nuns, the report brings to light how these institutions contributed to broader colonial systems and Indigenous oppression and recognizes the significance of acknowledging the connection of current-day Concordia to this history. 

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.