Back to SearchOn March 1, Town Council and staff gathered with Mayor Gordon to raise the flag for #ITSTARTS Month. Read the full proclamation here. Find more information on #ITSTARTS on the County of Simcoe's website here.
Please note, all flags at Municipal buildings are flying at half-mast in memory of the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney.
Thank you all for coming. We will start off with a Land Acknowledgement:
The Town of Midland recognizes that it is located on land which is the traditional and Treaty territory of the Anishinabek people, now known as the Chippewa Tri-Council comprised of Beausoleil First Nation, Rama First Nation, and the Georgina Island First Nation. This territory is within the pre-confederation Treaty 5 and Treaty 16, and included within the Williams Treaties of 1923. The Town of Midland recognizes that it is located on land which is the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat and the historic Homelands of the Metis, and that our Town is home to a large and diverse community of Indigenous peoples.
Today we kick off #ITSTARTS! In Simcoe County, the month of March is dedicated to encouraging and reminded everyone living in Simcoe Count to take a proactive step towards addressing racism and discrimination in our community.
For the last eight years, many municipalities, community organizations and other institutions have annually taken part in #ITSTARTS! The Town of Midland is dedicated to promoting a unified community that embraces acceptance, inclusion, equity and diversity. We stand with the #ITSTARTS campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of developing welcoming communities in Simcoe County.
In your hands you have a piece of paper that says “It Starts With…” Please take a moment to look at the cards around you and reflect on what others have written. Some I can see highlight pretty impactful words, Leadership, Empathy, Conversations, Awareness, Education, Community… so many important messages.
Now the question is, how do we as residents, staff and council make this a priority?
Let us work together to promote a unified community that encourages collective action against racism and discrimination. Each day, we need to commit to learning, creating a brave space for questions, and supporting each other while working toward the goal of building an inclusive community.
Thank you to the County of Simcoe for leading these important initiatives and creating opportunities for conversation. You can find an abundance of helpful resources on their website, simcoe.ca/itstarts. - Mayor Bill Gordon
Subscribe to NewsContact Us