A gathering in Parry Sound brought Indigenous and non-Indigenous community leaders together for an evening of conversation about Truth and Reconciliation, shared souly through an Indigenous lens and voice with participants calling for stronger, grassroot reconciliation bridge-building in a kind way, leading to renewed and trusted relationships with Indigenous Peoples’ through meaningful First Nations participation in local decision-making and action that extends beyond words and a single event.
The Rotary Revival Unite For Good Gathering was respectfully held in Parry Sound at the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts, on Canada’s National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, bringing together First Nation leaders, community members, Municipal leaders and representatives from organizations across the region.
Rotary Revival Reconciliation Chairman Tim Clayden shared “The Unite For Good Gathering is not a performance. It is a respectful invitation for non-Indigenous Canadians, settlers, and others to listen and learn, and to better understand the living histories, culture, and spirit of the Original Peoples’, shared solely through an Indigenous voice and lens, in a kind and respectful way, the Anishinabe way”
Organizers say the gathering was intended to create a kind space for people to listen, learn and speak openly about reconciliation, including some of the difficult issues that continue to shape relationships between Indigenous communities and local institutions.
Shawanaga First Nation Chief Adam Pawis said the gathering represented an opportunity to begin conversations that are long overdue.
“It was both an honour and a privilege to attend the Unite For Good Gathering,” Pawis said. “The Unite For Good event marks the beginning of a long-overdue conversation about Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples’ across Canada”
Pawis said moving forward will require difficult conversations, but also a willingness to work together.
We will have some upcoming tough discussions moving forward; however, we can achieve many good things working together, in both a good and kind way,” said Chief Pawis.
One of those tough discussions emerged during the gathering itself.
Pawis raised questions about Indigenous participation in the governance surrounding the new regional municipal Tamarack North Centre in Parry Sound. Organizers said the discussion focused on the absence of representatives from Shawanaga First Nation and Wasauksing First Nation from the municipal governance structure associated with the facility, despite the initial support the First Nations provided toward the project.
With construction now complete, participants expressed hope that future governance of the facility will provide an opportunity for both First Nations to participate meaningfully.
Riali Johannesson, president of the Parry Sound Law Association and an attendee at the gathering, said reconciliation today must be reflected in governance and decision-making.
“First Nations MUST be at the table with full rights and input,” Johannesson said. “Anything less is a failure to respond to the TRC’s Calls to Action.”
The discussion reflects a broader conversation taking place among Ontario municipalities about what reconciliation looks like at the local government level.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan calls on municipalities to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and to create space for Indigenous voices in local governance. The plan also speaks about moving beyond consultation toward collaboration and shared governance.
James Murphy, CEO of the regional tourism organization Explorers’ Edge, attended the gathering and said meaningful participation has to extend beyond simply having Indigenous representation in the room.
“The Unite For Good Gathering demonstrated what can happen when people come together with a genuine willingness to listen, learn and build stronger, more respectful relationships,” Murphy said.
“But reconciliation also has to show up in how we work together and how decisions are made. There is an important difference between representation and meaningful participation.”
Murphy said inviting an Indigenous perspective into a conversation is not enough on its own.
“Indigenous partners need a meaningful seat at the table and a real voice in decisions that affect their communities,” he said.
The Parry Sound Unite For Good gathering was organized by Rotary Revival as part of what organizers describe as a Reconciliation In-Action initiative focused on building relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples’ and translating conversations about reconciliation into tangible change.
Gathering chairman Tim Clayden said the evening demonstrated the potential for those relationships to grow when people are willing to listen to one another.
“The Unite For Good Gathering was more than a successful Rotary community event, it felt like the beginning of something bigger, something new,” Clayden said.
He described an evening where Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours came together “with open hearts, mutual respect and a genuine willingness to listen and learn.”
Clayden said the next challenge is ensuring that the momentum created by the gathering continues.
“Something important happened in that room, and our responsibility as genuine friends and allies of Indigenous Peoples’ is to now carry it beyond one evening, strengthening the community bridges that we have begun to rebuild and turn goodwill into trust and lasting, enduring friendships,” he said.
Organizers believe the concept could eventually expand beyond the Parry Sound area, with discussions already underway about developing a broader reconciliation movement through Rotary and other community partnerships.
The next major step is expected to bring the conversation south.
Plans are underway to host a Unite For Good Gathering in Bracebridge in the spring of 2027, extending the initiative into Muskoka and creating another opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders, residents, organizations and governments to come together, building bridges of trust, respect and friendship.
Murphy said the goal should be to build on the conversations that began in the District of Parry Sound Muskoka. “As we look ahead to bringing the Unite For Good Gathering to Bracebridge, I hope we can continue turning these shared conversations into stronger relationships, better governance, meaningful action and lasting, genuine friendships,” he said.
For organizers, that progression, from conversation to relationships and ultimately action, is at the heart of the initiative.
“Reconciliation only moves forward when people do,” Clayden said. “When the distance between peoples’ begins to disappear, reconciliation stops being a word and starts becoming a relationship. Canada must move reconciliation beyond words and begin rebuilding trust with the Original Caretakers of Mother Earth through humility, respect, and meaningful action. Our responsibility now is to honour the truth, keep our commitments, strengthen relationships and walk forward together in a better way for all peoples’ and for those yet to walk upon Mother Earth” stated the Rotary Revival Reconciliation Chairman.
The planned Bracebridge Unite For Good Gathering evening theme is based on “Teachings of Indigenous Ways of Knowing” and the sharing of cultural life lessons and living shared souly through an Indigenous lens and voice. For more information please feel free to contact Explorers Edge or the Rotary Revival Club of Parry Sound.
