Lisa Fuller, Director, People Development and Operations, is one of 1,300 BCLC employees to have completed the organization’s Four Seasons of Reconciliation course – a primer on the foundational knowledge on truth and reconciliation that nearly all Canadians missed in their learning journey, and now a requirement for every BCLC employee.
“Learning about the history and culture of Indigenous Peoples, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) and the Residential school system is so important for me, personally,” said Fuller. “This was not part of the curriculum in schools when I was growing up. I now look for opportunities to further incorporate this knowledge and understanding into the various People & Culture programs we provide throughout the employee journey as well as my personal journey.”
With a presence in nearly every corner and community in British Columbia, BCLC acknowledges that it operates as a guest in the territories of more than 200 First Nations. Strengthening its connections and collaborating with Indigenous communities is a priority for the organization – and an important part of why BCLC developed the Four Seasons of Reconciliation course.
Nicole Semenoff, BCLC’s Advisor of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, is a member of the team who developed the course and relayed how an essential element was making it required of all employees.
“Mandating this course sets a strong precedent,” she said. “In doing so, BCLC ensures that every employee has a shared baseline of knowledge, creating a consistent starting point for learning and awareness across the organization. It also signals the commitment from leadership to establish reconciliation as a sustained and active process, one that is further embedded in workplace culture by offering continued education and opportunities for deeper engagement.”
Developed in partnership with Reconciliation Education and the First Nations University of Canada, Four Seasons of Reconciliation is a direct response to the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Members of BCLC’s Indigenous Employee Resource Group and Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation team were also invited to provide input into the development of the course – including how it can support BCLC’s objective to govern in the public interest by both decolonizing its operations and fostering equitable relationships.
“Decolonizing first requires understanding Canada’s colonial history and its current relationship with Indigenous Peoples in Canada,” said Shane Vincenzi, BCLC’s Senior Manager of Indigenous Relations. “This understanding is provided, in part, by the lessons in the Four Seasons of Reconciliation training.”
For Semenoff, the course will continue to have impact going forward, as additional employees are onboarded and complete the work.
“The course shows that reconciliation is not an optional conversation, but a core principle of any work we do at BCLC. This helps foster respect, deepen cultural understanding and lay the groundwork for meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities.”
