A new way to spark change between Ontario communities and First Nations.
The first Urban Aboriginal Forum is being held Tuesday and Wednesday in Toronto.
Dryden will be represented at the conference with Dryden Native Friendship Centre Executive Director Sally Ledger and City Clerk Debra Kincaid among the keynote speakers.
Ledger says the goal is to share success stories, build relationships and achieve positive change between communities and First Nations.
The forum is being hosted by the Metis Nation of Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres and the Ontario Native Women’s Association, in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer will be speaking at the gathering.
Ledger and Kincaid will present their findings from their on-going Community Transportation project.
Since 2014, the City and Native Friendship Centre have been working with other partners to address local transportation services, challenges and gaps.
Ledger says they will outline how the relationship started, what are some of the opportunities they have identified and what they have learned during the process.
She’s hoping other Ontario communities will take something from the Dryden initiative.
