(Ottawa, ON) – December 17, 2025 – The Legacy of Hope Foundation is pleased to announce the arrival of two new members of our Board of Directors, Matthew Sweezey and Dave Ward. These two men each bring their unique and valuable expertise in furthering Truth and Reconciliation through their work, and we look forward to their contributions to LHF’s Board of Directors.

Dave Ward is a nêhiyaw (Cree) from Driftpile Cree Nation in northern Alberta. Dave is passionate about developing social and affordable housing to tackle the housing gap that exists for Indigenous Peoples. Or something along those lines, otherwise the rest sounds great. Homelessness is just one part of the housing crisis our people are facing. As Chief Executive Officer at Lu’ma Development Management (LDM), Dave is a relationship builder and innovative thinker who seeks to strengthen the safety and access to culturally appropriate housing that Indigenous Peoples can access in Canada.

Matthew Sweezey joins LHF’s Board of Directors from New Brunswick. Matthew is the Director of First Nations Education for Anglophone North School District and sees both the immense value and need in strengthening relationships between local Mi’kmaq Indigenous communities and schools. Matthew is an ally and leader who guides educators and students on the path of Reconciliation by integrating Indigenous knowledge and worldviews into curriculum. He has led numerous initiatives that deepen the Truth and Reconciliation learning journey of Staff and students, including an Elders in Schools program.

“The sheer passion, innovation and spirit of Reconciliation that Dave Ward and Matthew Sweezey bring to the Legacy of Hope Foundation’s Board of Directors, will strengthen LHF’s ability to foster Reconciliation in impactful ways across sectors in Canada and we are so grateful to have them join us in this important work,” said Adam North Peigan, LHF Board President.

The LHF is a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada for over 25 years. The LHF’s goal is to educate Canadians about the history and existing intergenerational impacts of the Residential and Day School Systems and subsequent Child Welfare System on Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) Survivors, and their communities to address discrimination against Indigenous Peoples, and to promote hope and healing in Canada. The LHF works to encourage Canadians to address discrimination and injustice to contribute to the equity, dignity, and respectful treatment of Indigenous Peoples.

The LHF has 30 educational exhibitions that promote awareness of Indigenous history, which are free to borrow, and we are working on making exhibitions available online. LHF also has curricula for K-12 and for adults, along with Activity Guides, Workshops, and Training, two Podcast series, all aimed at educating Canadians about Indigenous history and the shared history of Residential and Day Schools, the Child Welfare System, and other colonial acts of oppression. The LHF works to develop empathy and understanding to eliminate ongoing racism against Indigenous Peoples and to foster Reconciliation in Canada.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Teresa Edwards, B.A., LL.B / J.D.
Executive Director and In-House Legal Counsel
Legacy of Hope Foundation
tedwards@legacyofhope.ca