How National Recycling Operations is Advancing Truth and Reconciliation
Since 2021, The Salvation Army Thrift Store, National Recycling Operations (NRO) has launched initiatives to recognize and promote Truth and Reconciliation. Through educational opportunities, NRO staff learn about Indigenous culture and history.
“Our greater purpose is creating safe and inclusive spaces for everyone,” says Lindsay Robinson, national director of marketing and communications for NRO. “Our priority is to educate our teams by giving them resources, tools and knowledge to create those spaces.”
As The Salvation Army has a close relationship with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI), NRO also leverages this partnership by sharing CCDI webinars and educational resources with its staff.
“Our priority is to educate our teams by giving them resources, tools and knowledge.”
To honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, NRO encourages staff to wear orange shirts and employees working on September 30 receive a lieu day. However, their commitment isn’t limited to a single day. Throughout the year, National Indigenous History Month is recognized, as well as International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
Educational sessions are led by Indigenous leaders and survivors. In 2022 and 2023, NRO partnered with the Orange Shirt Society and the Truth and Reconciliation Committee to host speakers Deborah Johnson and Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, both survivors of residential schools.
Last year, Elder Allen Sutherland with the organization Grandmother’s Voice, shared knowledge on Cultural Humility and Creating a Culture of Self-Care. For 2025, NRO is proud to welcome the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, former Member of Parliament and proud member of the We Wai Kai Nation, as their special guest. She will lead the educational webinar, True Reconciliation: How to be a Force for Change.
“Our staff appreciate the opportunity to learn. The fact that these sessions come from people with lived experiences makes them genuine and authentic. It is different than us just writing an email and providing a link to resources. This is an opportunity to listen to their stories as a tangible way to continue on the path of reconciliation,” Lindsay adds.
“Our staff appreciate the opportunity to learn.”
NRO has approximately 2,000 employees in Canada, with 5.4 percent identifying as Indigenous, which is higher than the national average of 4.6 percent, according to a 2023 report by Indspire.
Lindsay believes this is a sign that staff feel welcome and included.
“This shows we are doing a good job at creating safe spaces,” she says. “Our initiatives align with who we are as an organization and we are making decisions that are equitable, inclusive and address barriers.”
Looking ahead, Lindsay hopes to see the impact of these educational opportunities.
“If people can even just take away one small thing that makes them more knowledgeable or understanding, then we have been successful.”
By Juan Romero
