Prime Ministers Path Public Engagement

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Township of Wilmot will engage with the community on next steps for Prime Ministers Path

The Township of Wilmot will use community engagement to help determine the future of Prime Ministers Path, which includes statues of Canadian prime ministers.

Wilmot is seeking a consultant to design public engagement training; plan for and select members of a working group; and develop and implement a community engagement plan. The Township issued a request for proposal that closed in August 2024 and is in the review stage.

The company selected will lead the plan development and training while working collaboratively with the Township’s engagement team and the community. The company will have led engagement on complex issues and be committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Much of the engagement will be conducted in person in Wilmot. The working group is anticipated to launch this fall, with community engagement to continue into the new year. Recommendations for Prime Ministers Path may be ready as early as the first quarter of 2025.

Council Meetings: Prime Ministers Path

Since June, 2020, the topic of the Prime Ministers Path has been discussed at various Township of Wilmot Council Meetings. The links below provide details related to those meetings, including Agendas, Minutes and submissions from delegations. All meetings can be viewed on the Township's YouTube channel.

First Peoples Group Engagement and Findings

First Peoples Group completed its report for the Prime Ministers Path Public Engagement in July 2021. The information is included here and in the Council Agenda Package for the Special Council Meeting that took place at 6 p.m. on July 5, 2021, over a digital platform due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Following the July 5, 2021, Council Meeting, a media release was circulated about the decision to remove and store the remain statues on the Path. On July 7, 2021, the remaining statues were removed and the Township issued another media release to advise the public.

On July 27, 2020, the Council for the Township of Wilmot adopted a Notice of Motion to undertake public engagement of the Prime Ministers Path and the Sir John A. Macdonald statue located on the east portion of the Township's Administration Complex property.

First Peoples Group was been retained to design and lead the engagement strategy and worked with a Township working group to prepare for this process starting in the spring of 2021.

Public Announcement of the Launch of the Prime Ministers Path Community Engagement Process

The working group for this project consisted of Councillors Barry Fisher and Jenn Pfenning, the CAO, the Director of Information and Legislative Services/Municipal Clerk, the Director of Corporate Services, the Curator/Director of Castle Kilbride, the Assistant Curator, the Communications Specialist, and the Manager of Legislative Services/Deputy Clerk. This staff working group worked with the First Peoples Group. The project lead from First Peoples Group is Melissa Hammel, Vice President. First Peoples Group designed and will lead the engagement while the staff working group provides them with the local resources to carry out the engagement and advises on the local community partners or members who have indicated their desire to be involved.

The agendas of each meeting will be posted here.

May 20, 2021

The minutes of each meeting were posted here as approved by the working group.

First Peoples Group provided bi-weekly updates, which were posted here.

On April 21, 2021, a media release was circulated introducing the engagement process.

Contacts