The City of Orillia will partner with Parks Canada to establish a Champlain Monument and Commemoration of Indigenous Peoples Working Group that will be charged with determining the future of the controversial monument and, potentially, interpretive components.
At a council committee meeting Monday morning, council appointed Tim Lauer as their representative on that committee. The decision must be ratified at Thursday night's regular meeting.
According to a report tabled Monday, the goal is to "partner with Parks Canada to establish a joint working group with a mandate to pursue further consultation and report back to ciity council and Parks Canada on a path forward for the Champlain Monument that is respectful and representative of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives."
The working group would not be a committee of council as it involves numerous stakeholders from multiple jurisdictions.
The monument is also not a municipal asset but is owned by the federal government.
With that in mind, the joint working group would have representation from key partners in the project, and solicit feedback from other organizations and individuals as part of the consultation process.
This could include representatives of Parks Canada, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, the Huron Wendat Nation, and members of the public.
Parks Canada will work with stakeholders to develop a terms of reference.
According to the report, "the Manager of Culture from the City of Orillia and staff from Parks Canada will provide administrative support in the areas of secretariat, public engagement, advice with respect to policy, and practical implications of various options."
Parks Canada removed the statue from Couchiching Beach Park last year for restoration. It was originally supposed to be returned to the park this summer. However, controversy about the statue and its portrayal of history has grown such that Parks Canada opted to delay its return to obtain more input.
Watch for more on this story later today.
