Kawartha Lakes launches Indigenous Reconciliation Strategy
Kawartha Lakes is taking a meaningful step forward in its commitment to reconciliation by introducing its Indigenous Reconciliation Strategy. This community-informed initiative is designed to strengthen relationships with Indigenous Nations, organizations, and residents, while including reconciliation in daily municipal practices.
The strategy is being developed with Fluid Consulting, an Indigenous-owned firm based in Six Nations of the Grand River, and KLB Consulting, a value-based firm with previous experience working with Williams Treaties First Nations. The survey and engagement activities are open to all Kawartha Lakes residents. Everyone is invited to participate and Indigenous residents, employees and business owners are encouraged to share their voices and experiences.
“As residents of the City of Kawartha Lakes, we all share a responsibility to build a community rooted in respect, understanding and inclusion,” said Ron Taylor, chief administrative officer at Kawartha Lakes. “This public consultation and engagement is an opportunity to listen, learn, inform and work together to shape a reconciliation strategy that reflects the voices and values of our community.”
The development of the strategy marks the beginning of a relationship-based, Indigenous-led engagement process to guide how the city advances reconciliation across governance, planning, economic development, procurement, communications, and community life.
This work is not intended to replace Indigenous Nation-to-Nation relationships or treaty responsibilities, but to strengthen municipal systems so they better reflect and uphold them.
Engagement opportunities
Public engagement officially kicks off with an open house on Wednesday, June 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Victoria Park Armoury (210 Kent Street West, Lindsay).
Community members and Indigenous residents and organizations in the region are encouraged to attend the open house. Attendees will learn more about the project and have an opportunity to share their perspectives, with self-guided engagement stations to help shape the strategy’s development.
For those unable to attend, a public community survey is available on Jump In.
Engagement with Kawartha Lakes staff is underway, with activities that include in-person and virtual opportunities, Williams Treaties rights-holders, Indigenous organizations and community members, as well as broader public participation.
The process will prioritize culturally-safe, consent-based participation and ensure that knowledge shared is respected and protected. The insights gathered will guide concrete municipal actions, including governance tools, training, timelines, and measurable indicators to advance reconciliation in meaningful and lasting ways.
Learn more and get involved
Community members are encouraged to participate in the survey and attend upcoming engagement sessions.
For more information on the project, visit the Indigenous Reconciliation page on Jump In, or contact:
Emily Turner, economic development officer, heritage planning at or Tabitha Curley of Fluid Consulting at
The “Who We Will Engage” section of the City’s T&R page excludes residents so I am a little confused about the part we can or are expected to play in this initiative, if we enjoy no racial descent from Indigenous ancestry. CAO Ron Taylor is cited as saying that “As residents of the City of Kawartha Lakes, we all share a responsibility to build a community rooted in respect, understanding and inclusion” so I hope the part residents can play will become clearer at the public meeting on June 17th. This article says the City’s process of reconciliation will “ensure that knowledge shared is respected” but it doesn’t define “knowledge”. This is important because there can be considerable differences between traditional evidence-based knowledge and standpoint knowledge and this matters in law, including municipal law, because of how it impacts human rights under the Charter, including the right of accused persons to be presumed innocent until a fair and open public hearing can weigh all the evidence. Canadian justice (including municipal councils in their role as tribunals) has been accused of knowledge bias. Many of us have witnessed first-hand what it means to be the target of scapegoating and witch hunting based on unconfirmed assumptions about identity that vest “knowledge” in power. So, I hope the City will respect fairness and the human rights of all in its assessment of knowledge claims, balancing standpoint with evidentiary knowledge.
Our municipal authorities are responsible for maintaining our roads, providing safe drinking water, providing garbage collection, & policing, to name some of their priorities. Our tax dollars pay for these services, along with the substantial compensation we provide to elected officials & staff. I believe federal & provincial authorities are primarily responsible for indigenous reconciliation. This appears to be a vanity project that will be expensive with consultants hired, & staff being seconded from other municipal responsibilities. With this being an election year, I strongly suggest that you concentrate on the growing illicit drug consumption in our communities, that are creating homelessness throughout our city and towns, & endangering taxpayers who are concerned regarding shoplifting, break and enters & other violent crimes