July 24, 2019 Orillia, ON Parks Canada Agency
Over the course of the past eight months (from October 2018 to June 2019), the Samuel de Champlain Working Group conducted extensive and inclusive consultations that involved workshops, an on-line feedback tool, one-on-one meetings with subject experts, and background research. Parks Canada and the City of Orillia would like to thank all those that took part in the consultation process for their time and effort.
The Final Report and Recommendations represents a consensus of the seven working group members: Parks Canada, the City of Orillia, the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, the Huron-Wendat Nation, the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, and two citizens-at-large from the City of Orillia.
Key recommendations include:
1. That the Samuel de Champlain Monument be re-installed with only the central figure of Samuel de Champlain atop the plinth and that this installation occur immediately.
2. That the First Nations figures along with the figures of the Fur Trader and Missionary be the subject of further consultation with First Nations. It is the hope of the Samuel de Champlain Monument Working Group that future work, with the aim of re-imagining their presence in the immediate vicinity of the original Monument, will result in a meaningful and concrete example of Reconciliation.
3. That the text of the original Monument's "in-set plaque" be updated so that it will honour the original intent within the context of contemporary knowledge and wisdom.
4. That additional interpretive signage/pieces be developed and created with the participation of First Nations representatives to tell a historically accurate story of Samuel de Champlain and his relationship with First Nations.
The report is available on the City of Orillia's website at www.orillia.ca/champlain.
