Efforts to ease tensions between Brantford and the Six Nations has prompted a group of developers to take a close look at a Northern Ontario community.
The Haldimand Tract Good Neighbours Coalition is reviewing an agreement developed by the Serpent River First Nation and Elliot Lake to help both communities flourish in an environment of honesty and mutual respect.
The coalition is also working on a plan to bring community leaders from both northern communities to Brantford to talk about their agreement sometime in August. A copy of the agreement can be found at www.htgnc.com.
"We've very fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from what Serpent River and Elliot Lake have been through," coalition chairman Steve Charest said in a news release Wednesday. "Their journey was not easy. But they chose a path of peace and it has a much better change of success than what we're seeing in our community right now."
The Serpent River-Elliot Lake agreement is based on a belief that both communities will flourish through economic and social benefits generated by joint initiatives and co-operation, according to the news release. The two sides meet regularly in an atmosphere of mutual interest.
"This is a much better way to go," coalition member Vincent Geerdinck, president of STM
Construction, said in the news release. "It's much better than a climate that leads to the cutting off of dialogue, mistrust and the threat of even worse."
Brian Porter, of Two Row Architects and another coalition member, is excited about meeting Elliot Lake Mayor Rick Hamilton and Chief Isadore Day, of Serpent River First Nation.
"These are communities that have challenges similar to ours," Porter said in the statement. "They are finding ways to peacefully work them out. I know we can all learn from them."
Drew Hill, another founding member of the coalition, knows people from Elliot Lake and Serpent River First Nation.
"Not everyone was in favour when they started the process," said Hill, president of the Abor Group. "But everyone agrees that things are better living within a climate that honours each other and a peaceful co-existence based on a strong future together."