Tragically Hip rocker’s fund announces new Halifax ‘legacy rooms’

Five Halifax venues have responded to Tragically Hip rocker Gord Downie’s call on corporate Canada to do more to promote dialogue and reconciliation with Aboriginal people.

The Legacy Room initiative, part of the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund, announced new locations Friday including a Halifax private school, a university, an accounting outlet, a restaurant and a development firm.

Charlene Bearhead, co-chairwoman of the fund, said the spaces will encourage conversations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and raise awareness of the legacy of residential schools.

“Being angry or shamed, shaming white people or re-traumatizing Indigenous people, it doesn’t serve us collectively,” she said during an interview.

“These spaces are about building relationships and encouraging learning and awareness.”

The five Halifax locations are the Armbrae Academy, the Barrington Steak House and Oyster Bar, the library at Dalhousie University, Deloitte Atlantic Canada and the Waterfront Development Corp.