THEM AND US AND A DIFFERENT WORLDVIEW

Family, friends, and past and current colleagues and students of Dr Chandrakant P Shah were present at the launch of his memoir, To Change the World: My Work With Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Canada at the Dalla Lana Public School of Health in Toronto.

The captivating memoir traces his journey from a small town in Maharashtra, India, to professor of public health at the University of Toronto, in the process addressing inequities in Canadian health care, specifically in underserved and First Nations communities. It encapsulates Professor Shah’s remarkable contributions to the field, including the first Canadian textbook on public health. Dr Shah is the recipient of numerous awards.

He entered a room full of those who have long admired his work with the Indigenous communities in Canada, greeting everyone with a hug and wide smiles.

Dr.  Shah (born in India in 1936), professor Emeritus at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, is a retired physician, a public health practitioner and an advocate for improving the health and well-being of marginalized groups in Canadian society. He was a professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, the University of Toronto, 1972-2001.

After retiring from the University, he worked at the Anishnawbe Health Centre Toronto from 2001-2016, where he provided primary health care to the Indigenous community in Toronto; and also researched urban Indigenous health issues. His research and advocacy work on employment equity had a profound impact on Canadian universities’ hiring policy of visible minorities as professors.

As a testament to his enduring impact, the evening began with the presentation of the C P Shah Alumni Award of Excellence. Established several years ago, it is awarded to a distinguished individual who has advanced the field of public/population health or health systems in Canada through their contribution and or sustained efforts in the practice of public health, teaching, and research.

Dr Suzanne Stewart, director of the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, led a conversation with Dr Shah about his life and work.

Reading passages from the book, Dr Stewart choked up several times – the trauma described in the book silencing everyone in the room.

The book includes tributes and letters of appreciation of his work as well as precious family photographs, chronicling a truly remarkable journey.  At the conclusion of the reading,  following the Jain tradition of seeking forgiveness, Dr Shah apologized for any hurt he may have caused unknowingly, and vowed to continue his work. Royalties from the sale of his book that evening were to be donated to the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health with Dr Shah matching the amount collected.

WHAT TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION REALLY MEANS

By DR CHANDRAKANT SHAH

On September 30, Canada celebrated the Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Why is this day so important? Like Remembrance Day in November, where we remember our veterans who fought to maintain our commitment to democracy, Truth and Reconciliation Day acknowledges the injustices we committed towards Indigenous People and reiterates our commitment to reconcile with them by our actions individually and collectively.

To understand what we need to do, we must first accept the truth that happened before and after confederation, and which is happening till now, which is outlined plainly in the Truth and Reconciliation Report by Justice and former Senator Sinclair. I sent the following message to my Indigenous colleagues and hope it will resonate with you.

Dear colleagues,

Please accept my sincere gratitude for sharing this beautiful land with my family and myself. On this day of Truth and Reconciliation, as a newcomer and settler, I do accept the truth about the impact of colonization, residential schools, sixties scoop, not respecting treaties and all injustices suffered by Indigenous People as outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Throughout my life, I will make sincere efforts to be an ally of Indigenous People and develop and maintain a trust relationship. I, to the best of my abilities, will also make earnest attempts to rectify the present situation your people are in. I will take my obligation towards past, present and future treaties signed by Canada with Indigenous People seriously and always be mindful of the fact that the land that I am living and working on belongs to your people. 

Chi miigwetch, thank you.