Ontario Investing $7.7 Million to Support Indian Residential School Survivors

 The Ontario government is investing $7.7 million to launch the Indian Residential School Community Engagement Fund (IRSCEF). This funding is available to communities and organizations to provide culturally appropriate mental health and wellness supports to survivors and their families impacted by ongoing burial investigations at former Residential Schools.

“Ontario is continuing its steadfast support for Indigenous communities and organizations to deliver programs that support the healing of Residential School Survivors and their families,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation. “This investment is in direct response to what communities have told us they need – flexible, community-driven resources that address the impacts of this difficult work. We are committed to walking this path with Indigenous partners by supporting healing, truth-telling and education in a way that reflects their priorities and leadership.”

Eligible communities and organizations can receive up to $250,000 for initiatives such as public education and awareness, survivor engagement, gatherings, commemoration initiatives and research activities that connect community members to ongoing investigations. Applications for funding are open through the Ontario government’s Transfer Payment Ontario website until September 8, 2025.

The IRSCEF is part of the $32.1 million included in the 2025 Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario to support burial investigations at former Indian Residential Schools. This includes $17.1 million for planned and ongoing burial investigations and up to $15 million in mental health, addictions and trauma supports.

Ontario continues to advance meaningful reconciliation by working with Indigenous partners to explore opportunities that strengthen the collective awareness and understanding of the painful legacy of these institutions. To date, Ontario has invested $124.5 million to support the identification, investigation, protection and commemoration of burials at former Residential Schools across the province.