Statement on Pope Francis’s Apology to the Indigenous Peoples of this Land

The institutional members of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities in Canada join together on the occasion of Pope Francis's apology to the Indigenous Peoples of this Land. We fully recognize that this apology will not undo the trauma and wounds experienced by Indigenous communities, particularly as a result of the residential schools that were owned and operated by Catholic religious orders. However, we believe this apology is an important step forward towards the goals of Truth and Reconciliation. In a spirit of prayerful and hopeful anticipation, we look forward to Pope Francis’s promised visit to Canada in order to offer his apology to the Indigenous Peoples, as they have requested.

Read Pope Francis’s Remarks and Apology

About Us

The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities in Canada (ACCUC) is an organization of Roman Catholic institutions of higher education located across all parts of Canada. The ACCUC acts as the official voice for Catholic higher learning in Canada, as it seeks to spread “the spirit of learning” throughout the country.

Sincerely,

Peter Meehan, Ed.D.

Chair, ACCUC

President and Vice-Chancellor, St. Jerome’s University, Waterloo

John Cappucci, Ph.D.

Vice-Chair, ACCUC

Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Assumption University, Windsor

Christopher Adams, Ph.D.

Immediate Past Chair, ACCUC

Rector, St. Paul’s College, Winnipeg

Chantal Beauvais, Ph.D.

Rectrice, Université Saint Paul/Saint Paul University, Ottawa

Shawn Flynn, Ph.D.

President, St. Joseph’s College, Edmonton

Lauretta Frederking, Ph.D.

President, Brescia University College, London

Rob Harasymchuk, M.B.A.

President and Vice-Chancellor, St. Peter’s College, Muenster

Sami Helewa, S.J., Ph.D.

President, Campion College, Regina

Michael Higgins, Ph.D.

Principal, St. Mark’s College, Vancouver

President, Corpus Christi College, Vancouver

David Malloy, PhD

President, King’s University College, London

Dawn Russell, Q.C.

President and Vice-Chancellor, St. Thomas University, Fredericton

Brigitte Quintal, BCL

President, College Universitaire Dominicain, Ottawa

Carl Still, Ph.D.

President, St. Thomas More College, Saskatoon

David Sylvester, Ph.D.

President and Vice-Chancellor, University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto

Gerry Turcotte, Ph.D.

President and Vice-Chancellor, St. Mary’s University, Calgary

Jason West, Ph.D.

President, Newman Theological College, Edmonton

Thomas Worcester, S.J., Ph.D.

President, Regis College, Toronto

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