Welcoming Communities is launching the Everyone Belongs Action Plan by celebrating some amazing individuals and groups that have contributed to making Grey Bruce a region where everyone belongs.

We chose the individuals and groups we are celebrating tonight because:

• They contributed for many years to belonging, inclusion, welcoming, and making a difference in Grey Bruce
• They are changing hearts, attitudes, behaviours to build a more welcoming region.
• The demonstrate passion, lots of voluntary contributions, and going the extra distance
• They come from all walks of life, and diverse backgrounds.

We also ask each person/group to consider ‘Why does building a region where everyone belongs matter to you? What motivates you and your group?’

1. Susan Staves and The Giche Name Wiikwedong Reconciliation Garden Committee (Elder Shirley John, Senator Ralph Walking Thistle, Chief Greg Nadjiwon, Colleen Purdon, Donna Elliot, Cathy Miller, Thomas Dean, John Ghent, Mark Plummer).

The GNWRG Committee is a group that has contributed for many years to belonging, inclusion, welcoming, and making a difference in the Grey Bruce region. It started with the principles of reclaiming the land and creating a place for people to learn about Indigenous culture. We invitated all peoples and nations to come to garden to enjoy and learn about the territory they live in. Many people do not know that the garden site at Kelso Beach at Nawash Park was near the original Nawash village of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.

People of all nations, faiths, walks of life, ages and backgrounds are welcome and belong at the garden. It is a place of healing and friendship and learning about one another. The traditional ceremonies of Anishinabek people take place at the garden – the songs, the prayers, the ceremonies that mark important times which also show how much we have in common – we share some fundamental values across all cultures at the garden – for example we have the 7 Grandfather teachings which are guiding principles for Anishinabek people, just as the 10 commandments are guiding principles for Christian people (all spiritual traditions share important principles like respect, humility, and truth. We are all treaty people. When we are together in the sacred circle at the sacred fire, we are all equal. We don’t talk or think about what divides people, or talk about colour or sexual orientation? Everyone is welcome at the Garden and this is something we celebrate.

Our work has led to changing hearts, attitudes, and behaviours that build a more welcoming region for everyone. Some examples and things that stand out are:

• At the Garden we take the time to recognize important dates and ceremonies that are changing hearts, attitudes, and behaviours. The many contributions of Indigenous peoples from Nawash and Saugeen as veterans in the wars of 1812, World War one and two and in the Canadian military are now recognized at the garden on November 8th.
• Together we celebrate Indigenous people’s day with a moving Sun Rise ceremony and on Sept 30th commit to Truth and Reconciliation on National Day of Truth and Reconciliation at the garden.
• We are building a path forward to repair the historic wrongs of the past and current wrongs that require change., like residential schools, the 60’s scoop, missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2 spirited at the Garden.
• We welcome everyone to come the Garden to learn, make amendments, heal and move forward in a good way together.

Our contributions come from a place of passion, lots of voluntary contribution, and going the extra distance. The Garden Committee grew over more than 12 years, and everyone was interested and worked because it was the right thing to do – so we could tell our truths and find solutions to move forward with healing, knowledge, and the truth. If we want to live together as treaty people everyone needs to know the truth about what has been done to Indigenous peoples in Canada and learn together how to build a different future. We were only able to build the garden with the support of many sponsors and funders – they are acknowledged at the Garden site, and we are grateful. People come from all walks of life and backgrounds. The Garden Committee is made up of Indigenous people from Nawash and Saugeen and the Metis Nation of Ontario and has had the support of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (Chippewas of Nawash and Saugeen Ojibway). We have several faith leaders and people from all walks of life involved in the building and programming at the Garden. We are now looking for new and youth committee members to take us forward!

Kee May Ip

• Long involvement with One World Festival – founding volunteer, committee member, performer and presenter – involved in all aspects of making it happen for 14 years.
• Research, writing, presenting, education about Chinese contributions and immigration to the Grey Bruce region since 1896
• Founder of the annual Lunar New Year Celebration at Grey Roots Museum, Owen Sound Library and other locations in Grey Bruce.
• Co-founder of the Grey Bruce Newcomer and Immigrant Women’s Collective • Personal experience as a visible minority newcomer woman in Grey Bruce (mother, partner, volunteer)
• Project manager on projects to address newcomer attraction and support, researching newcomer women’s experiences and ways to address barriers to employment (Making Grey Bruce Home 2018-2019 and Pathways project 2029-2020). Prepared training programs, community awareness raising, data collection about newcomers and their experiences living and working in Grey Bruce, and took the lead on the development of the Newcomer Information Hub.
• Now working with the Grey Bruce Local Immigration Partnership as the Outreach Coordinator.
• A long-time volunteer in schools throughout the region fostering appreciation of culture diversity through doing presentations and workshops on Chinese cultural and international folk dance.
• May has been a volunteer and supporter of Welcoming Communities events and initiatives since it began in 2019 and is a regular attendee at board meetings.

Donald Anderson

Donald moved to Owen Sound in 1996 and worked as a coordinator of volunteers for the CNIB. He moved through several positions with the local CNIB until 1999. In 2000 Donald worked with the Canadian Mental Health Association in several positions and retired in 2022. During 28 years in Grey Bruce Donald has volunteered with the Grey Bruce Pride Committee and chaired it for 2 years along with volunteering on the City of Owen Sound’s Accessibility committee for 4 terms, the City Operations Standing Committee for 2 terms and the CNIB Foundation Advocacy committee. He became involved with racism and inclusiveness through volunteering with the Inclusive Communities Committee in 2006. This led to involvements with the Good Neighbour Network and the One World Festival for 14 years. When Welcoming Communities Grey Bruce formed Donald joined the board as a founding member and has been active for 5 years.

“I think what stands out for me is my opportunities to educate the community of Grey-Bruce about my disability through the groups and committees I have served on. There is always the concerns of the people and organizations I have volunteered with their understanding of the appropriate social behaviours and attitudes of the general public towards a person with a disability. Every individual or group I am involved with lends itself to learning about me as a person who just happens to be blind. What else stands out for me is that as a gay man I again have been given opportunities through my volunteer involvements to educate and create comfort and acceptance of my LGBTQ2S community. The individuals and groups that see me as a man encouraging a welcoming community and who is gay is what I hope people see”.

Donald believes that his passion for being involved in the growth of a diverse and tolerant community stems from his up bringing in a rural community and learning by example from his maternal grandparents and relatives.

“You help your neighbours and when new neighbours move in you bring food and welcome them. I learned that giving of yourself, whatever that is, creates a welcoming and acceptance of differences is good for all involved.”

Donald comes from a mixture of farmers and townies. His maternal side of his family were farmers for 5 generations. His paternal family side were factory and office workers in a small town. Both sides of the family taught me to be involved in the organizations of my community. Whether it was church suppers, the town band, the farmers’ association or the local social service committee his families were involved. No matter where he lived, whether in Winnipeg, Mississauga and Owen Sound he tried to contribute to a welcoming feeling for himself and others.

Why building a region where everyone belongs matters to you?

‘When I was asked to say a few words about why Belonging matters to me I thought it matters to me because I know what it is like to relocate to an unfamiliar and friendless community and the isolation that can occur. I know what kind of hatred, intolerance, bigotry, and violence that a newcomer with a perceived difference can experience as I have experienced it myself. Everyone wants to have a feeling of belonging in a group of people that are accepting 4 and want to create friends who will invite you to their favorite East Indian restaurant or their Hindu festival of lights and accept your differences from them.’

Donna & Murray Jansen

In 2014, we became convinced that refugee sponsorship was something we wanted to explore, as we were recently retired and looking for a way to serve. We pitched the idea to the Owen Sound Alliance Church, and they were fully supportive; a committee was formed, and things moved quickly from there. This was slightly before the Syrian crisis became so well-known and we chose an Eritrean family of four, refugees living in Sudan. From the moment this family arrived in August 2015, we were hooked. We came to love them as family – and they us. This is not something we, as a couple, did alone. We developed a formula, that we shared extensively with other sponsorship groups. The formula emphasized shared responsibilities amongst a group – housing, budgeting, ESL, transportation, groceries etc. Everything was delegated, resulting in many people sharing the load but also developing enduring relationships with the family. The church involvement was far beyond a financial commitment and the motivator was scripture such as “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” Matt 25:35.

We began to receive requests, within and outside Grey Bruce, to share our method of resettlement and Donna sat on various committees and spoke to a variety of new groups starting on their sponsorship journey. Donna and Murray were part of Grey Bruce Newcomer Network and Donna served as part of the Steering Committee.

The consequence of deep emotional attachments is a shared desire to help family members who continued to live in oppression and danger. Consequently, the Alliance Church sponsored eight more Eritreans from the same family in 2018. Then a few years later, another three. Deep relationships were developed with these 11 people too – they became more than friends, but family. Eventually Murray and Donna approached Calvary Missionary Church and partnered with them to sponsor another three Eritreans. Subsequently another partnership was made with the Christian Reformed Church to sponsor a family of 8 Eritreans – one of whom recently arrived; the other 7 are expected soon (hopefully). During this time, the Alliance Church sponsored another 8 Eritreans and all 8 are fully approved and just waiting on flights to be arranged to come to Canada. In addition, six babies -fully Canadian- were born here. So how do you count? From that first inspiration to sponsor a family of four, there are now, or soon will be, 40 Eritreans living in Owen Sound. They have no desire to leave this beautiful community.

The stories are their stories, some of which were shared in A Place to Belong (co-authored by Donna) and not ours, but they include hardships beyond our imagination – torture, kidnapping, hunger, confinement, prison, and much more. As Canadians, we are exempt from this (in most cases) thus we have a responsibility to DO SOMETHING. In return, we are loved and treasured by the most resilient extended family we could ever hope to be part of. This group of Eritrean/Canadians (many have citizenship now) demonstrate gratitude every day and help teach us a vital lesson – how blessed we are to be Canadian.

If there is anything unique about this story of sponsorship it is how enduring the relationships are. There are many, many challenges in a new country that are difficult to navigate, especially the first time. Some examples are as follows: how to apply for a 5 mortgage; how do you apply to college; what do you do if you are in a car accident; how do you handle an employer who takes advantage of you; what is the difference between comprehensive and collision on a car insurance policy; how to buy a used car etc. All of this resulted in a nickname for Donna (started by Mokless) that has stuck “Donna 911”. This relationship is not just one year; it is a commitment to family that lasts for the long term, in our case it is now 9 years. We have been blessed beyond measure.