THUNDER BAY — The City of Thunder Bay is reaching out to the public for input on how to improve relations with members of the Indigenous community.
It's inviting Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents, community partners and service providers to participate in a survey.
Participants will be entered into a draw to win an iPad.
Tanis Thompson, manager of Indigenous relations for the city, says the feedback will be used to help prioritize areas for action such as creating more Indigenous spaces, increasing awareness of Indigenous culture, making city services more responsive, or focusing on anti-racism education.
Thompson said the survey will help the city set the direction for annual action plans based on areas already identified in its seven-year Indigenous Relations Strategy, which can be accessed on the same web page as the survey.
"It takes a community to change a community," she said. "This is an opportunity for all voices to be heard as we collectively implement change and build a respectful and inclusive city for everyone."
Besides the online option, people can participate by picking up hard copies of the survey in the City Hall lobby, all branches of the Thunder Bay Public Library, or Anishnawbe Mushkiki Community Health & Wellness Aboriginal Access Centre at 1260 Golf Links Road.
Individuals completing the online survey will also get the opportunity to make submissions to a virtual idea board that requests comments on what living in a more inclusive city looks like.
In addition, community partners can register for virtual engagement sessions schedules to take place in May, to discuss the commitments in the Indigenous Relations Strategy and how they can be collectively implemented.
The survey opened Monday and will remain available until April 17, 2022.
