Land Acknowledgement
Ontario is home to many diverse Indigenous peoples. It sits on the traditional territory of the Wendat, the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, the Mississaugas, the Mohawks, the Huron-Wendat, the Cree, the Algonquins and many other First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. We acknowledge that Ontario is the site of many broken treaties and covenants. As we launch the Ontario Community Changemakers program, we remind ourselves to respect and nurture our relationship to this land as well as to its First Peoples past, present and future.
We are investing in emerging leaders living in Ontario with community-driven solutions that support social inclusion and civic engagement in public spaces because we believe they are an integral part of creating the healthy and equitable communities Ontario needs.
Many communities call this land their home. According to the 2021 census, 406,590 Indigenous people live in Ontario, constituting 2.9% of the province’s population. 4,817,360 (34.3%) Ontarians identify as a visible minority. 4,725,795 (33.7%) were born outside Canada. 1,424,102 (10.1%) Ontarians live in rural and small-town communities.
The Ontario Community Changemakers program aims to provide more opportunities for Ontarians to get involved and take a leadership role in their communities. We are striving to create a launchpad for civic innovators and placemakers that reflects the diversity of people and geography of this province. Individuals with lived experiences that are currently underrepresented in the placemaking sector, including those from Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities, and 2SLGBTQI+ backgrounds, are strongly encouraged to apply.
We accept applications from residents of communities of all sizes, including rural communities, small towns, cities, and First Nations territories. Applications from Northern Ontario are also encouraged as we look to increase impact in rural and remote regions of the province.