The passing of the Honorable Murray Sinclair

Nov 4, 2024

Corpus Christi College and St. Mark’s College are deeply saddened by the loss of the Honorable Murray Sinclair, the renowned Anishinaabe judge and former senator who led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Following Senator Sinclair’s important work on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which resulted in the 94 “Calls to Action,” Corpus Christi College and St. Mark’s College, along with institutional members of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities in Canada (ACCUC), released a report titled Dialogue Together with Action: Canada’s Catholic Colleges and Universities & the Road to Reconciliation. Dr. Gerry Turcotte was honoured to present the report to Senator Murray Sinclair in Ottawa on October 24, 2017.

Earlier this year, the Colleges hosted Dr. Niigaan Sinclair, son of Murray Sinclair, for a discussion on the Catholic Church and Indigenous engagement, titled Papal Visit 2022: The Catholic Church and the Four Steps of Reconciliation. The talk discussed the Pope’s visit and looked forward to the steps the Roman Catholic Church and related organizations can take to continue healing and reconciliation.

As institutions dedicated to walking the path of truth and reconciliation, Corpus Christi and St. Mark’s are thankful for the impact of Murray Sinclair’s work. He was national leader in Indigenous justice and advocacy whose work has left a lasting legacy in Canada and has shaped education in significant ways.