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The Ontario government is investing $7.7 million to help Indian Residential School survivors and their families through the new Indian Residential School Community Engagement Fund (IRSCEF).
The funding will support culturally appropriate mental health and wellness programs for those affected by ongoing burial investigations at former Residential Schools. Eligible communities and organizations can apply for up to $250,000 for initiatives such as public education, survivor engagement, gatherings, commemoration projects, and research connected to investigations.
Applications are open until September 8, 2025, through the province’s Transfer Payment Ontario website.
The IRSCEF is part of $32.1 million in the 2025 Ontario budget dedicated to supporting burial investigations, including $17.1 million for investigation work and $15 million for mental health, addictions, and trauma supports.
Since starting this work, Ontario has invested $124.5 million to help identify, investigate, protect, and commemorate burial sites, working alongside Indigenous communities toward healing, truth-telling, and reconciliation.
Written by Emily Chatwood
