When Susan Staves and the Gitche NameWikwedong Reconciliation Garden Project Committee received their YMCA Peace Medallion yesterday, Susan offered these remarks:

The importance of the Gitche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden to Indigenous and non Indigenous peoples is how it contributes to healing, building new relationships and moving forward in PEACE and to our community’s journey towards Truth and Reconciliation.

Having the history of local Indigenous Peoples made public and accessible in the garden, establishes common ground and starts conversations: a place for people of all nations to gather.

We make the current “invisible” presence and history of Indigenous people “visible” to people walking through the Garden.
Increasing the awareness and respect for long ignored history, culture and traditions of our local Indigenous peoples helps our community address ongoing racism and settler attitudes.

In addition to being a place of contemplation, the garden serves as a gathering place for culturally significant events such as:
Weddings, baptisms, aboriginal day, the solstice and equinox, concerts, National Truth and Reconciliation day and school visits with youth to learn and take part in Events with Knowledge Keepers.

The space is meant to be inclusive, and is intended to be used for reflection, knowledge and celebration.

I want to Thank Jo Calvert, One World Festival for the nomination and Francesca Dobbyn, United Way Bruce Grey for your reference. This is a great honor for our Committee. I have the best team!

I want to thank the current Committee members for all their hard work and commitment to the Garden. Thomas Dean , Colleen Purdon, Donna Elliott , Francesca Dobbyn , ShirleyJohn , Mark Plummer, Michael Craig, Greg Nadjiwan , Gary Kenny, and Jordon Murray.

I want to mention Liane Regendanz's name as a recipient of this Award posthumously. Liane was a very dear friend to the Committee and in the last few years of Liane’s life she was very committed as a Committee member.

I would also like to thank PAST committee members Paul Nadjiwan, Graham Bland and Virginia Smith for their vision and hard work.

I say Chii Miigwech to our many Supporters and Funders.

We couldn’t have come this far without you.

The Gitche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden began a process of reconciliation and healing, and to make VISABLE the rich culture, language, history, spirituality and presence of Indigenous peoples.

It is now an exercise in community healing and a commitment to peace.

The Committee is grateful for the broad support we have received from the City of Owen Sound, Saugeen Ojibway Nation, businesses, faith groups, local foundations, organizations, and from community members.

We have come a long way and the Garden is a hopeful place to move forward.

We have some Events and a new and exciting youth initiatives planned in the next year that will also help build peace, knowledge, relationships and skills.

We welcome everyone to the Gitche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden to learn, reflect, share and move forward together in a good way.