Honouring family traditions
During National Indigenous History Month, we are shining a spotlight on two employees – brothers Douglas and Tommy Crimp – who have been longstanding Superintendents at Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC), as well as contributing members of the Anishinaabe First Nation community.
Born and raised in Toronto, Douglas and Tommy spent their summers in Killarney, Ontario surrounded by elders hearing stories about their ancestors. Their mother, Alice Helena Crimp, proudly served Toronto Community Housing for 40 years as the first Indigenous and female superintendent. “She always raised us to understand the importance of being a contributor in our communities and always giving back,” says Douglas. At a young age, they were made to be aware of the resources they take from the land. Today, Douglas instills the same values taught to him by his mother and elders to his six sons.
Douglas and Tommy are proud to be Senior Superintendents at TSHC and carry on the legacy of their mother. Tommy has been at TSHC, including when it was the Seniors Housing Unit at Toronto Community Housing, for seven years. Douglas has been here for 24 years, including back when it was the Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company, before Toronto Community Housing was created.
Splitting their time between Toronto and Killarney now, they continue to honour and celebrate Indigenous traditions at home. “We have the annual Killarney Winter Carnival, as well as the Firefighters Fish Fry that takes place every weekend in July,” says Tommy. The entire town comes together to celebrate during this time. A yearly powwow also takes place in Wikwemikong every August.
Indigenous History Month is very important to the brothers. The brothers explain, “it’s a time for all Canadians to reflect on the history of our ancestors, so that history is never forgotten or repeated.”
No matter where they are, they make it a priority to be in nature as much as possible. “Our way of life is the way of the land,” Tommy says. “Whether we’re on our boat, fishing, or in the bushes, we are enjoying the life we were taught to live from our ancestors.”
