FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oakville, Ont., May 8, 2026 – A dedicated Indigenous Gathering Space is coming soon to Oakville in the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC).
The space realizes the original request from Oakville’s Indigenous Community to create an Indigenous Knowledge Centre, documented in the Oakville Community Foundation’s 2019 25 Community Conversations report. The space was envisioned as a Truth and Reconciliation initiative in Oakville and as a way to further our relationship and connection between all local treaty and traditional Indigenous community members.
In March, The Foundation officially leased indoor and outdoor space at the QEPCCC and, with OCF’s Indigenous Advisor Elder Peter Schuler’s design vision of a traditional lodge, renovations are currently underway. Inspired by a Lodge, the indoor space features walls with a rough-pine shiplap design and a dark ceiling to mimic a night sky. The space will include art design features on the walls and Moccasin Identifiers for wayfinding through the Community Centre. The room furnishings are intentional for workshops, ceremonies and other community uses.
Indigenous-led consultations have been taking place over the last few months to determine governance, uses, access and the naming of the space. The space will be formally opened for community use in June.
“The first step of the Debwewin project was to seek the truth in Oakville. What better place to seek the truth than in your own local community? Now, the Debwewin project is moving forward through truth TO RECONCILIATION with the establishment of this Indigenous Gathering Space to support reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, as well as reconciliation between ALL Indigenous peoples,” stated Elder Peter Schuler.
We are grateful to a number of local Halton organizations who have supported the space with in-kind and direct donations, including:
- Canadian Tire Oakville
- IKEA Burlington
- Oakville Kitchen & Bath Centre
- Oakville Paint and Decor Centre
- Promation
- Speers Road Broadloom Ltd.
The Indigenous Gathering Space would not be possible without a number of very generous donations from fundholders and allies. Additional donations are required to complete the renovations and fund ongoing activities.
If you are able to, please support the Indigenous Gathering Space and other Truth and Reconciliation activities in Oakville by donating here.
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Oakville Community Foundation
The Oakville Community Foundation is Oakville’s largest community of philanthropists with 400 Funds. The Foundation facilitates local philanthropy by investing donations to generate new money for our community and charities. We conduct local research to provide our diverse donors with knowledge and solutions to make an impact in the local community, both today and in the future. Thanks to the visionaries in our community who started The Foundation more than 30 years ago, The Foundation has granted more than $78 million to support charities locally and beyond.
