People across northwestern Ontario honour late Murray Sinclair and his impact on Indigenous lives
CBC
People from northwestern Ontario are remembering the Honourable Murray Sinclair for his impact in the region and across Turtle Island.
Sinclair died at age 73 at a Winnipeg hospital early Monday morning "peacefully and surrounded by love," his family said in a statement.
He was Manitoba's first Indigenous judge, led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and also served as a senator.
In 2017, he was appointed by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission to look into its concerns over the ability of the Thunder Bay Police Service Board — the civilians appointed to oversee the local force — to address issues raised by Indigenous leaders.
"His investigation uncovered systemic racism and validated long-standing concerns held by the Indigenous members of the Thunder Bay community," Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) said in a statement Monday on Sinclair's passing.
Riley Yesno, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto and research fellow at the Yellowhead Institute, said learning about Sinclair's death was like a "gut punch."
"There's very few, if any, other people in this country right now that have made such an impact … [and] touched every individual Indigenous person's lives," said Yesno, who is a member of Eabametoong First Nation.
"The entire trajectory of the country, politics and government has not been the same since the work of the [TRC] Commission … I was just kind of, I think, marinating in that whole realization of how much we've lost."
Yesno said the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is ingrained in many people's minds, but recalls there were many challenges getting it off the ground before Sinclair was appointed chairman.
"I really think that it's because especially of his work that we even got a Commission that people still reference today in the first place — and I think that that labour really can't be understated," said Yesno.
Leaders with NAN, a political territorial organization that represents 49 First Nations across Treaties 9 and 5, are also mourning the loss of Sinclair.
"We are terribly saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend this morning. We extend heartfelt condolences to his family, Peguis First Nation, and friends and colleagues across Turtle Island. May the Creator guide him as he begins his Spirit Journey," said NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler in Monday's statement.
Sinclair's wisdom and knowledge inspired many young people across NAN territory. Throughout the years, he engaged with NAN youth and facilitated opportunities for them to develop relationships with upper levels of government, says NAN's release.
Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa of Kingfisher Lake First Nation held a moment of silence for Sinclair on Monday at Queen's Park.
The family of an Edmonton woman who died in Honolulu last year is pushing for Hawaiian authorities to re-open the case.
It was around this time in 2020 that everything changed.
With its emergency shelter beds frequently running at 50 per cent over capacity and demand so great that it's forced to refer some women escaping domestic violence elsewhere, Gillian's Place in St. Catharines will soon be able to offer a broader range of services to more victims of gender-based violence.
The ceiling of the CAW Student Centre at the University of Windsor is decorated by flags of numerous nations — among them, Iran.
Turmoil in Iran, a major disruption in world oil markets, and stratospheric gasoline prices in Canada and beyond. What's racking motorists and governments in 2026 also faced them in 1979, sparked by the Iranian Revolution.
Five decades later, and Thunder Bay's Music World Academy remains a family-run business.
Dalton Dubois of Guelph, Ont., made history at the recent Paris Fashion Week when she became the first transgender model to walk the runway for Chanel Exclusive.
Work is scheduled to begin over the summer at the site of the former Clinton Creek asbestos mine, about 65 kilometres northwest of Dawson City, Yukon.
They may be bitter rivals in the House of Commons, but outside the chamber, recent events may have led to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Prime Minister Mark Carney forging a bond.
Local fans and industry insiders say the province’s move to ban the reselling of event tickets for more than their original value is a step in the right direction, but some say there are still larger issues that need to be addressed.
This First Person column is the experience of Mehdi M. Kashani, who lives in Toronto. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
A very quiet queue has formed in Europe where some of Canada's long-standing, closest allies are seeking shelter under France's small but robust nuclear umbrella.
Friday morning's dusting of snow was no match for the large crowd visiting the Suleman Dawood Masjid in St. John’s for Eid-al-Fitr. A busy service marked the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month.