NEWS RELEASE COUNTY OF WELLINGTON
ABOYNE, ON – Today, Wellington County Council officially opened the Gathering Circle located on the Wellington Place Campus.
The Gathering Circle was developed through community conversations facilitated by the Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) of the County of Wellington. It was developed as an alternative, land-based space for education, healing and gathering as a means to support the Indigenous community in a culturally safe environment. It will be shared with our community as a place of inclusion to help facilitate some of the 94 Calls to Action identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
“It’s an honour to officially open Wellington County’s Gathering Circle,” commented Warden Andy Lennox. “The Gathering Circle would not have been possible without the vision of the IAC and the support of County Council. There is space for all of us in this project – Indigenous, neighbours and allies.”
The County received $250,000 in Federal funding to develop the Gathering Circle. Once fully completed in the fall the Gathering Circle will include:
• Space to grow medicines for ceremony
• Native plant species
• Pavilion
“The Gathering Circle was developed to provide our Indigenous community and the agencies that serve them a safe space to meet. One that is not confined by walls – but plants, water and natural space,” said Colleen Brunelle, IAC Chair. “This is part of our commitment to putting action into Reconciliation. The work is far from finished – but this is a great start.” The Gathering Circle is located behind the Wellington County Museum and Archives
