(Ottawa, ON) September 14, 2021– The Legacy of Hope Foundation is pleased to announce that Kunitz Shoes has generously decided to donate the proceeds of 215 pairs of shoes to them to support our work toward Reconciliation.

With two locations based in Edmonton, Alberta, Kunitz Shoes is a family owned and operated shoe business. Upon the recent and devastating discovery of children’s unmarked graves at Kamloops Indian Residential School, the Kunitz’s felt compelled to do something to show support in the work of Reconciliation. As a business with its founding roots in children’s shoes, the knowledge that so many Indigenous children never had a chance to reach their bright futures, is truly heartbreaking. This donation is symbolic of a hope, that by learning from the past, we as Canadians, can learn how to walk better in the future together. Creating awareness and understanding about the Residential School System, is a step towards a more hopeful future.

“We are so grateful to Kunitz Shoes for taking action to raise awareness about Indigenous history and for their contribution, which will help produce more educational resources. Together we are fostering Reconciliation in Canada,” said Teresa Edwards, Executive Director and In-House Legal Counsel for the Legacy of Hope Foundation.

The LHF has been in operation for more than 21-years as a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada. The LHF’s goal is to educate and raise awareness about the history and existing intergenerational impacts of the Residential School System, Sixties Scoop, Day Schools and other colonial acts of oppression on Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Metis) Peoples.

The LHF has 25 exhibitions that are available for loan for free. One recent exhibition, Escaping Residential Schools: Running for their Lives, is now available through an animated virtual video, along with the Survivors’ Oral Testimonies. The exhibition examines the experience of Survivors of the Residential School System and raises awareness on the impacts it has on our communities. For more information on the project, please visit: https://legacyofhope.ca/project/escapingrs/ The LHF is working on making its other exhibitions also available online.

The LHF also has curriculum from K-12 and for adults, along with Activity Guides, Workshops and Training all aimed at educating Canadians about Indigenous history and the shared history of Residential and Day Schools, the Sixties Scoop, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The LHF works to develop empathy and understanding so as to eliminate racism and foster Reconciliation in Canada. To purchase any resource, or an Orange T-Shirt or to donate to the LHF, or for more information about the LHF visit the website at www.legacyofhope.ca. Our charitable# is 863471520RR0001.