B.C. organization One Day’s Pay supports Indigenous organizations

Last year, a Vancouver man decided he would donate one work day’s worth of his paycheck to support Indigenous organizations, in the lead up to the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

This idea quickly turned into a grassroots campaign called One Day’s Pay.

The initiative went on to raise half a million dollars.

“The response was overwhelming,” One Day’s Pay founder Josh Hensman said. “We were really moved to see how many Canadians showed up and gave.”

All of the funds raised by the organization went to supporting the Indigenous Residential School Survivor Society and the Orange Shirt Society.

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This year, One Day’s Pay is raising funds again and hoping to repeat its past success.

But Hensman says the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is taking place in a different global context.

“I think a lot of people are feeling overwhelmed with challenges that are going on at a world scale. There’s an economic crisis, the war in Ukraine, and the global climate crisis,” he says.

However, Hensman notes that he thinks people will still participate.

“I suspect a lot of people are still willing to give. It’s important for Canadians to remember reconciliation is a long process, and it’s important that we keep showing up,” he said.

One Day’s Pay also offers resources for Canadians to engage with Indigenous organizations and movements, in addition to learning more about the work they do.

Anyone wanting to learn more about Indigenous-led initiatives in Canada is encouraged to visit onedayspay.ca