Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) held the official opening of the Crane Gathering Space at Island Lake Conservation Area on Friday, June 7, alongside the Indigenous Roundtable, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MFCN) and project partners. This momentous event celebrated and honoured the first Indigenous placemaking site along the Credit Valley Trail (CVT). The ceremony took place at the site’s location at Island Lake Conservation Area in Orangeville.
“We’re honoured to celebrate alongside our Indigenous partners as we officially open the Crane Gathering Space,” said Fred Nix, CVC board member and Deputy Mayor for the Town of Mono. “This is an important day as we continue to work with Indigenous communities to help advance the goals of truth and reconciliation. This space affirms the continued presence of Indigenous Peoples as caretakers of the Credit River Watershed and will be an inclusive space for everyone in our community.”
The Crane Gathering Space is the first of seven Anishinaabe dodem (clan) sites planned along the CVT. The vision for the Crane Gathering Space was developed by the CVT Indigenous Roundtable (IRT) in collaboration with CVC and partners. The site plan was guided by the Indigenous Experience Plan (IEP), finalized in 2020. It aims to bring Indigenous culture and experiences to life along the trail and identified areas of significance in the watershed, as well as conceptual designs for each of the seven Indigenous sites along the trail.
The concept vision for the Crane Gathering Space was developed by Smoke Architecture and Trophic Design through the Island Lake Management Plan, completed in 2021. CVC’s Conservation Areas Master Strategy also supported its development. Construction began on the site in August 2022.
The Government of Canada provided funding for the Crane Gathering Space through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). CVC also acknowledges the many community donations that made this project possible.
“The northern trailhead of the Credit Valley Trail has been transformed into a beautiful and meaningful gathering space that will help build community, respect and understanding for generations to come,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “Our Government is pleased to have supported the development of the Crane Gathering Space, and we applaud the efforts of all project partners to ensure the land’s Indigenous culture is preserved and celebrated.”
The Crane Gathering Space is primarily a space for Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, urban Indigenous communities and other Indigenous communities to have ceremony and honour their traditional practices. The space will also nurture connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, providing a space for learning, teaching and relationship building between nations.
“The opening of the Crane Gathering Space has been many years in the making and is now open for all people to celebrate,” said Elder Carolyn King, MCFN. “I’m very pleased and very honoured to be part of its planning and now implementation, from the early ideas and the people involved in the design and those that made it all happen. It’s a beautiful project. Miigwetch [thank you] to the Credit Valley Conservation and all the staff for being part of the project starting from the Indigenous Experience Plan, supporting it and making it happen.”
The inspiration for the Crane Gathering Space comes from the Ajijaak dodem (Crane Clan). In Anishinaabe tradition, the Ajijaak is known as an echo maker and is the speaker of the clans. Ajijaak is an announcer of things to come. The sandhill crane also uses Island Lake as a stopover site during its annual migration. Once the space is open to the public, lucky visitors may spot them from the pier by the Crane Gathering Space.
CVC and the IRT worked with Indigenous architects, landscape architects, fabricators and artisans to supply critical components of the design and construction of the space. The project created opportunities for Indigenous-owned businesses and strengthened CVC’s relationships with Indigenous communities by reinforcing their presence in the Credit River Watershed. The project was complete thanks to the IRT; consultants Neegan Burnside, Smoke Architecture and Trophic Design; artisans and fabricators Dean McLellan Stonework, Lafontaine IronWerks and Sunshine Landscape and Design Construction.
The Crane Gathering Space is the first of seven Indigenous placemaking sites to be completed in the Credit River Watershed. All seven sites will feature interpretive signage, public art installations, trail markers and other culturally appropriate amenities. These sites will incorporate Indigenous storytelling, teachings and symbology. To learn more about the CVT and Indigenous placemaking, visit the Credit Valley Trail website.
Photo:
Caption: Credit Valley Conservation and partners take part in a ceremonial cloth cutting during the opening ceremony at the Crane Gathering Space. From left to right: Scott Cafarella, Manager, Capital Projects, CVC; Diem Marchand-Lafortune, Cree Treaty Six; Elder Carolyn King, MCFN; Quentin Hanchard, CAO CVC; Dale Kewageshig, Saugeen First Nation; Dr. Jonathan Ferrier, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation; Elder Gary Sault, MCFN
Link: https://files.cvc.ca/cvc/uploads/2024/06/IMG_8217-scaled.jpg
About Credit Valley Conservation (CVC)
Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) is a local conservation authority established by the Ontario government in 1954 to protect, restore and enhance the natural environment of the Credit River Watershed. That watershed is the area of land where all rainfall, snowmelt and runoff drains (”sheds”) into lands and waters flowing into the Credit River. CVC creates connections between people and nature, knowledge and action. It inspires a deep appreciation for the role of nature in keeping people connected, healthy and happy. CVC is a member of Conservation Ontario. In 2024, Credit Valley Conservation is celebrating 70 years of conservation.
About FedDev Ontario
For 14 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our investment profiles, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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Media Contacts
Jamie Williams Specialist, Marketing & Communications
Credit Valley Conservation
M: 905-431-5772
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Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
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