BRANTFORD — Representing the Brantford Rotarians, the Sunrise Club pledged that they are contributing $35,000 to be released in stages towards the roof repairs at the Mush Hole, formerly known as the Mohawk Institute —one of the only remaining residential school buildings in all of Canada.
A statement released by the Rotary Club of Brantford reads, “The message to the community is clear: turning this place from what it was in the past, an instrument furthering a policy of cultural genocide, into a national museum of consciousness, is a worthy cause. The repurposing of this building into a national museum will help Canadians understand a regrettable part of our history, while at the same time honouring the students who attended the institute. It also recognizes that reconciliation is not possible without understanding the truth behind the history of the Mohawk Institute.”
“One of Rotary’s areas of focus is to promote peace and conflict resolution,” said Rotary Club of Brantford- Sunrise President Kevin Davis. “It is rare that we have an opportunity to work to- wards this goal so close to home.”
“We hope other service clubs and members of the community join with us and contribute as well,” Davis continued. “This is a way to come together and repair and restore both this building and our the relationships between First Nations communities and more broadly Canadians across the country.”
The Sunrise club launched in 1993 and raises money in the city of Brantford through annual events. They contribute to many charities within Brantford and Brant County such as the Alzheimers Society of Brant, Laurier Brantford’s Project Empathy and the Brantford General Hospital foundation.
