Reconciliation Action Plan
View our 2026 - 2029
Reconciliation Action Plan
Message from CEO and President
In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued 94 Calls to Action, calling upon all Canadians to actively contribute to healing and building stronger relationships with Indigenous peoples. Some of these Calls to Action specifically addressed industries like ours, the construction sector, where Cooper Equipment Rentals is a dedicated participant. While the construction industry has made incremental progress toward fostering greater Indigenous inclusion, there remains a significant opportunity to deepen our engagement and accountability. Recognizing this, Cooper Equipment Rentals has taken a conscious, purposeful step this year to evaluate and enhance our relationships with the Indigenous communities where we operate. Our team has invested time and effort to gain a more profound understanding of the history of these lands, and the diverse cultures and longstanding traditions of their caretakers.
As a tangible outcome of this commitment, Cooper Equipment Rentals has developed a Reconciliation Action Plan to guide our initiatives and actions in 2026 and beyond. This plan represents a structured roadmap for our company, providing practical steps for how we can improve as a business, employer, and community partner. Our Reconciliation Action Plan is a foundational framework aimed at fostering long-term, meaningful change within our organization.
This commitment is a shared vision between us, our leadership team, and every employee across our company. It signifies not only a benchmark for where we aspire to be but also serves as an evolving path forward in our journey toward reconciliation. We aim to integrate these principles into our daily operations, enriching our partnerships with employees, clients, and Indigenous communities alike.
| Brian Spilak CEO |
Darryl Cooper President |
|---|
Artist Bio: Andrew Wigwas
Andrew Wigwas is an Indigenous digital artist from Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay First Nation). He has been drawing since childhood, constantly filling notebooks with doodles and characters. His introduction to digital art came around age twelve, sparked by his interest in game design and the need to create his own graphics.
When his first son was born, Andrew felt a powerful urge to return to painting—this time with vibrant colour. He began creating acrylic pieces to hang in his home, exploring hues and colour themes in a new way, and his very first painting was nearly purchased right out of his apartment parking lot. As his style evolved, he transitioned back into digital art, carrying with him a stronger sense of colour, smooth line work, and the unique line-pattern motifs that now define his signature style.
Andrew’s work blends traditional inspiration with modern tools, celebrating Indigenous identity, storytelling, and the continuum of creativity passed between generations.
Artwork Story - “The Moose and the Beaver”
In the old days, Moose walked the shoreline alone, carrying the strength of the deep forest. Beaver lived in the river, building and shaping the water’s path. Though they shared the same land, they rarely spoke, each believing the other lived “the wrong way.”
One dry summer, the river grew shallow. Beaver’s lodge cracked, and Moose’s favourite drinking place turned to mud. They met at the thinning water, tired and unsure. Beaver remembered his grandfather’s teaching: Mnaadendimowin — Respect. “When you honour another’s way of life,” his grandfather had said, “you learn to see the world bigger than your own eyes.”
So Beaver asked Moose to help clear a new channel. Moose used his great strength to move fallen logs, while Beaver shaped the flow with careful teeth and steady paws. Together, they restored the water that both their lives depended on.
When the river ran full again, Moose lowered his head in gratitude. Beaver tapped his tail in thanks. They returned to their homes changed—no longer strangers, but relatives who had chosen to understand one another.
And the water between them carried that teaching forward.