Moment of Reflection Opening Ceremony – Victims and Survivors Week 2025

Bonjour et merci d’être ici aujourd’hui!

I acknowledge my presence on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people. I am grateful for the wisdom and rich cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples who continue to care for this land. In the spirit of reconciliation, I encourage everyone joining us virtually to find a way to support an Indigenous-led business, organization, or author, and reflect on ways you will pursue reconciliation.

Today, we are coming together for Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, to recognize the extraordinary strength and resilience of survivors, hold space to acknowledge the pain, and celebrate the progress we have made working together.

Over the past year, our team has been conducting a national systemic investigation into how survivors of sexual violence are treated in the criminal justice system. We are grateful to have heard deep and meaningful reflections from more than 1000 survivors, who have shared their experiences and helped us imagine a more compassionate future. Many described ways they are turning pain into purpose and making change possible for others. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

Our team was also inspired by the courage and hard work of advocates, frontline service providers and people in the criminal justice system who have been championing a better way. In the coming year, our team will release a final report with recommendations to help the government respond to survivors in a way that betterreflects the values of dignity, safety, and respect for all Canadians.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights. This legislation is a significant step forward in recognizing victims’ rights to information, protection, participation, and restitution. But too often, these rights remain out of reach — acknowledged in theory, but not enforceable in practice.

For this anniversary to be more than symbolic, it has to be a turning point. We need to learn from the past 10 years and strengthen the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights so its promises can be fulfilled— for every victim and survivor in Canada.

I invite you to join me in a moment of reflection to honour our loved ones taken by violent crime and acknowledge the many ways violence has affected our lives. We sit in quiet tribute to those who have found the strength to speak, and to those whose silence speaks. As we pause, we remember, and we reflect on our sacred ability — to listen, to learn, and to act.

[Pause for moment]

Miigwech. Thank you. Merci.