A Gesture of Care: Supporting Your Team on NDTR with Outdoor Coolers in Canada

September 30th marks a day of profound importance in our country. On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), we see a sea of orange shirts, each one a solemn reminder of the children who never returned home from residential schools, and a symbol of our collective commitment to remembering a painful past to build a better future. 

This is not a day for celebration, but for reflection, for learning, for listening, and for quiet contemplation. For Canadian companies, it presents an opportunity to move beyond words and take meaningful action to support their teams in observing this day. 

Creating a space for dialogue and education is a crucial step, and a simple but powerful way to facilitate these important gatherings is by providing sustenance and comfort; a gesture of care that can be supported by practical, high-quality outdoor coolers in Canada.

Facilitating Dialogue: The Role of Outdoor Coolers in Canada on a Day of Learning


On a day dedicated to difficult but necessary conversations, the focus should be entirely on the learning and connection, not on logistics. By providing the means for a shared meal or refreshments, a company creates a supportive and welcoming environment where teams can gather, reflect, and learn together. 

The role of gear or items, like high-performance outdoor coolers in Canada, is to be a silent, reliable support system for these important moments, allowing for deeper engagement.

  • Creating a Space for Conversation: Sharing food is a universal human experience that builds community, breaks down hierarchies, and fosters trust. A shared meal can create a more relaxed atmosphere, making it easier for team members to engage in open and honest dialogue after a difficult learning session.

  • A Tool for Community Sustenance: A well-built cooler can serve as a dignified hub for a communal meal. A classic, sturdy cooler like the 52L Cabin Cooler, with its timeless design, can be filled with food and drinks for a team to share during a lunch-and-learn event. It becomes a focal point for the gathering, encouraging people to come together.

  • A Support System Designed for Canada: Choosing products that are designed in Canada adds a layer of intention to your gesture. It’s an acknowledgement of our shared national context and the importance of this day for all Canadians. It shows a commitment to quality and thoughtful preparation for a day of national significance, reinforcing that this is a Canadian issue we all have a role in addressing.

Support your team with thoughtfully chosen gear. See the full collection at Chilly Moose.

The Challenge of Authentic Acknowledgment

For corporate leaders, the biggest challenge on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is ensuring that any action taken is authentic and meaningful, not hollow or performative. In an age of social media, employees and clients can easily spot a lack of sincerity. A generic email or a poorly executed gesture can be worse than silence. The goal is to demonstrate a genuine, long-term commitment to learning and reconciliation.

  • The Pitfall of the Performative Gesture: The challenge is to move beyond simply "checking a box." An action can be perceived as performative if it’s a one-off, isn’t backed by further commitment, or seems to benefit the company’s image more than it supports the cause. Authenticity requires humility, a willingness to listen, and a focus on education rather than self-promotion.

  • The Solution: A Gift of Time and Resources: The most valuable gift a company can offer on this day is paid time for its employees to engage in learning, whether by attending a community event, watching a documentary, or participating in a workshop. The secondary gift is providing the resources, like a catered meal or transportation, to make these learning opportunities more communal and impactful.

  • A Tangible Prompt for Reflection: If a physical item is part of your initiative, it must be chosen with deep purpose. A thoughtfully selected gift, like the limited-release Canadiana 12L Harbour Bucket Cooler, can serve as a powerful prompt for reflection. Its name alone invites a conversation about our complex history, our identity as Canadians, and our shared responsibility on the path toward reconciliation. 

Choose a gesture of authentic support. Contact Chilly Moose for thoughtful corporate gift ideas.

Ideas for a Day of Meaningful Action

Observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a company should be focused on education, action, and creating a safe space for reflection. There are many respectful ways to create a meaningful experience for your team, both inside and outside the office.

  • Support a Local Indigenous-Led Event: One of the most impactful actions is to encourage and support your team’s attendance at a community event, such as a commemorative walk, a powwow, or a gathering led by a local Indigenous organization. A company can show its support by providing a catered lunch for the team to share. A large, mobile cooler like the 75L Wheeled Explorer is perfect for transporting enough food and drinks for the entire group, allowing them to participate without personal expense.

  • Host an On-Site Educational Session: If your team is remaining at the workplace, dedicate the day to learning. Host a screening of a relevant film like "We Were Children," or bring in an Indigenous elder or educator to lead a workshop or a sharing circle. Providing refreshments during these sometimes emotionally taxing sessions is a simple gesture of hospitality and care. A mid-sized cooler like the 25L Chilly Ice Box Cooler is ideal for keeping drinks and snacks readily and respectfully available for the group.

  • Encourage Outdoor Reflection: The land is central to Indigenous cultures and worldviews. After a day of intense learning, encouraging your team to spend quiet time in nature can be a powerful way to process information. Suggest a walk on a trail, a visit to a park, or time by the water. Providing the means for them to take along a warm or cold drink can support this important time of personal reflection.

Plan a meaningful day of action. Discover our collection of versatile coolers at Chilly Moose.

Beyond September 30th: Continuing the Journey of Reconciliation

Authentic allyship and commitment to reconciliation extend far beyond a single day of observance. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation should act as a catalyst for ongoing action, not a conclusion. For corporate Canada, demonstrating a long-term commitment is the most powerful statement of all.

  • Integrate Year-Round Education: Make Indigenous history and reconciliation a continuous part of your company’s learning and development. This can include lunch-and-learns with Indigenous speakers, promoting books by Indigenous authors in a company book club, or regularly sharing educational resources on an internal intranet.

  • Support Indigenous Businesses and Communities: Take concrete economic action. Actively seek out and support Indigenous-owned suppliers and partners for your business needs, from catering and office supplies to consulting services. Donate to or volunteer with local Indigenous organizations that are doing vital work in your community.

  • Review and Revise Corporate Policies: Undertake a meaningful review of your company's hiring practices, internal policies, and codes of conduct through a lens of equity and inclusion for Indigenous peoples. Ensure you are creating a workplace where Indigenous employees feel safe, respected, and have opportunities to thrive and advance. This internal work is the deepest form of commitment.


A Step on the Path to Reconciliation

Reconciliation is not a single event; it is a long and continuous journey that requires commitment, humility, and action from all Canadians. For a company, taking sincere and thoughtful steps on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a meaningful part of that path. 

Creating a supportive space for your team to learn, reflect, and connect is a powerful gesture. The act of providing for their comfort with high-quality outdoor coolers in Canada during these moments is a quiet but clear demonstration of care. It’s an investment in your team, your community, and our shared future as a nation committed to truth and healing.

Ready to plan a thoughtful corporate initiative? Contact Chilly Moose to learn more about our collection of outdoor coolers in Canada.

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