Hate Free Muskoka Two Day Symposium

Hosted by:

District of Muskoka’s IDEA Advisory Group (IAG)

Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions

https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/feedback-and-engagement/hate-free-muskoka.aspx

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IAG and SMFC will host a unique two-day symposium featuring engaging keynote speakers and local expert panels. This informative event will be complemented by interactive workshops, offering opportunities to turn knowledge into action. Both days will include a delicious catered lunch for all attendees, provided by local caterer Grandfather’s Kitchen. They use the finest ingredients to craft dishes inspired by First Nation traditions. Everything is made in-house from scratch, using foods from across Turtle Island.

Nov 7th – “Disrupting the Tides”

Date: Friday, November 7th, 2025

Audience: Youth and Youth-serving organizations

Time: 10:00 am to 2:30 pm

The purpose of “Disrupting the Tides” is to bring together youth and youth-serving organizations across Muskoka to deepen understanding of inclusion, diversity, equity, anti-racism, and belonging. Through interactive storytelling, shared dialogue, and collaborative learning, this event aims to disrupt systemic inequities that are harmful and inspire practical change within schools and community spaces. Participants will explore how to create safer, more affirming environments and leave with actionable tools to support equitable service delivery and belonging throughout Muskoka.

Nov 8th – “Advancing Allyship: Building Kinder Communities”

Date: Saturday, November 8th, 2025

Audience: General Public, Business Owners, Community Agencies

Time: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

The purpose of Advancing Allyship: Building Kinder Communities is to create a safer and more inclusive Muskoka for everyone. Building on the success of previous events, the Hate Free Muskoka Symposium 2025 aims to inspire action. This year, attendees will learn how to foster more inclusive spaces and address intersectionality, as well as combat hateful and harmful actions through allyship, intersectionality, and bystander interventions.

Day 2 Transportation Options:

A bus is available to transport participants from Gravenhurst and Bracebridge to Huntsville. You may select your closest pick up/drop off location during the registration process.

Bus schedule:
Gravenhurst – 8:30 AM – Giant Tiger – 1190 Muskoka Road South

Gravenhurst – 8:40 AM – YMCA – 101 Centennial Drive

Bracebridge – 9:00 AM – Metro – 505 Muskoka District Road

Bracebridge – 9:15 AM – Home Depot – 20 Depot Drive, R.R. 2

Background

IDEA stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism/Anti-Hate. The IDEA Advisory Group (IAG) is a committee of the District of Muskoka. Our vision for Muskoka is to celebrate diversity, promote equity, and foster inclusion while addressing issues of racism and promoting a culture of respect. One of our primary goals is to create opportunities for community engagement and public education to support this vision.

According to Statistics Canada, hate crimes in Canada increased by 72 percent between 2019 and 2021. The Canadian Race Relations Foundation estimates that 80 percent of hate crimes go unreported each year, and Muskoka has not been immune to the rise in hate-related incidents. Hate incidents are greatly underreported, and microaggressions continue to impact our communities.

In 2022, IAG hosted the inaugural Hate Free Muskoka Symposium. This one-day event was highly successful, and IAG was eager to follow up with another event focused on deeper learning and understanding, while exploring steps to foster genuine allyship.

For this upcoming event, IAG is pleased to be partnered with Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions (SMFC), a non-profit organization providing child welfare (Simcoe & Muskoka) and mental health (Muskoka only) services. SMFC’s commitment to equity and inclusion aims to enhance and sustain an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace through an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and intersectionality-based approach to ensure the well-being of all, deliver excellent service, build meaningful partnerships and uphold strong accountability.

These Lands

In Muskoka, we are on the traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg, which includes the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations, collectively known as the Three Fires Confederacy. The Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee Nations have also walked on this territory over time. Southern portions of Muskoka were the traditional territory of the Wendat when they resided in Simcoe County between AD 1300 and 1650 and they travelled regularly through Muskoka during those centuries.

Today Muskoka is home to three sovereign nations: Wahta Mohawks First Nations, Moose Deer Point First Nation and the Moon River Métis. These lands are covered by the Williams Treaty (of 1923), the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 and the J. Collins land purchase (of 1785). We must respect these treaties and ensure our governments do too.

We honour all Indigenous Peoples – First Nations, Métis and Inuit – for their cultures, their languages, their wise teachings, and ways of being that have shaped this country since time began.