Education Resources: Commemorating June 6th, and the Anniversary of the London Attack

What happened on June 6th?

June 6th, 2021, is a date that is etched in the memory of all Canadians. A Muslim family was out for an evening walk in London Ontario, when in a brazen act of Islamophobic violence, a terror attack took the lives of four members of the Canadian Muslim community and left one little boy seriously injured.
The photo above is of a mural painted by the youngest victim who perished in the attack on Our London Family.
Reflecting on the mural left behind, we are reminded of her brilliance and legacy. The mural continues to inspire and remind us of the work that is necessary to ensure that we root out hate and intolerance in all its forms.
It is a call for educators to intentionally nurture the brilliance of each student in our classrooms as we strive to create spaces that are inclusive and where all students belong.
As we approach the one year anniversary of the attack on June 6th, 2022, it is important for us to be mindful that this time can be increasingly difficult for Muslim staff, students and families.
We are providing you with some resources and ideas to meaningfully mark this date. Have a look at the suggestions below to support student learning and to engage your school communities.

5 Ways to Commemorate June 6th:

  1. Webinar for Educators:
    Join us for a webinar leading up to the 1st anniversary of the June 6th terrorist attack in London. We will come together to explore healing centered Islamophobia work. Take away practical resources and recommendations for classroom practice.
    Date: Thursday June 2nd, 2022
    Time: 4:00-5:30pm

  2. Student Workshop: Classrooms can join a virtual workshop on June 6th from 9:30-10:30am or 1:30-2:30pm (EST). Students will explore Islamophobia and bystander intervention. Open to grades 4-12. We encourage primary classroom educators to check out our classroom resources.
    Date: Monday June 6th, 2022
    Times: 9:30-10:00am or 1:30-2:30pm
  3. #OurLondonFamily Walk: Organize or participate in a class walk around the school. Honour the family by completing the walk they started. We encourage everyone to wear cultural attire as a homage to what the victims of the attack were wearing the night of the incident.
  4. Wear a Ribbon: Encourage staff and students to create and wear purple and/or green ribbon or clothing on June 6th.
  5. Classroom Resources: We encourage all educators to incorporate an activity or lesson to start conversations on difference and inclusivity. Stay tuned here as we will be adding resources and classroom ideas to mark June 6th.