June 7, 2017 - A report outlining the City's response to the recommendations directed to the City in the Seven Youth Inquest will be presented to City Council at Committee of the Whole on June 12.

The Inquest into the deaths of seven First Nations youth began on October 5, 2015 and concluded on June 28, 2016 when the Jury rendered its verdict. It investigated the deaths of Jethro Anderson, 15, Reggie Bushie, 15, Robyn Harper, 18, Kyle Morrisseau, 17, Paul Panacheese, 21, Curran Strang, 18, and Jordan Wabasse, 15. The Jury issued 145 recommendations, including 31 directed to the City of Thunder Bay.

"We got to work even before the recommendations were handed down," said Norm Gale, City Manager. "We've been thoughtful, formal and collaborative in our approach to the recommendations, and we share in the grief that the families and our community are feeling."

While the recommendations are not legally binding, the Inquest's main purpose was to prevent future deaths of First Nations youth who must live away from their home communities to attend high school in Thunder Bay.

"We are acting on the recommendations directed to the City, and other parties, and the steps the City is taking," said Karen Lewis, Director of Corporate Strategic Services and Lead on the City's response. "In general terms, the recommendations are aimed at improving or implementing programs with respect to physical, social and cultural infrastructure so everyone coming to Thunder Bay is treated equitably, included and engaged, safe, and able to access opportunities to succeed."

Subject to Council's approval, the Report will be provided to the Office of the Chief Coroner by June 28, 2017 and shared with the public on the City's website and provided to our partners. An overview of the City's efforts to respond to the Inquest will be shared through the City's communication channels including the June/July MyTbay citizen newsletter and Facebook page. The overview will also be published in The Chronicle-Journal and The Source.

Administration is recommending that sufficient funding be included in the 2018 Budget for consideration to augment contributions from existing budgets and leverage funding from other orders of government to implement the actions detailed in the report, with a preliminary costing to be provided to City Council in advance of Budget 2018. The City's Intergovernmental Affairs Committee is also seeking support from the Federal and Provincial Governments for implementation of recommendations by the City and other parties.

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Contact: Norm Gale, City Manager, 625-2224
                Karen Lewis, Director - Corporate Strategic Services, 625-3859

City's Response to Inquest Recommendations

Highlights of efforts to date include:

  • Participating in orientation events for students who are new to Thunder Bay and planning for the September 2017 semester. Meeting with the education sector to collaborate on ideas. (Recommendation 49)
  • Working, under Council's leadership, with requests for assistance with student living centres for DFCHS and MLC. (Recommendation 60)
  • Submitted a letter of intent to Public Safety Canada for a Youth Inclusion Program which will address youth safety, youth crime prevention, and well-being, with a focus on providing appropriate supports and mentorship opportunities to Indigenous youth attending school in Thunder Bay. (Recommendation 75)
  • Providing enhanced support of the Aboriginal Liaison Office to our partners to provide assistance to the families and community when the missing person protocol is activated. (Recommendation 91)
  • Held a Youth Partners Forum in January 2017 to explore coordination of city-wide youth recreation programming. (Recommendations 100, 105, 107)
  • Developed and launched a Youth Opportunities TBay Facebook page in February 2017 for community groups to share opportunities and supports for youth. (Recommendation 100)
  • Promoted P.R.O. Kids, which opens up opportunities for participation in City and community programs, through meetings with partners, resulting in more applications. (Recommendation 104)
  • Approved a grant in January 2017 for a sports equipment lending library hosted by MLC that would be open to all First Nations youth attending school in Thunder Bay. (Recommendation 107)
  • Reviewing processes for hiring of youth and possible enhancements to City Aboriginal Cultural Sensitivity training. (Recommendation 109)
  • Reproducing the Declaration of Commitment to Urban Aboriginal People for posting in all City buildings this summer. (Recommendation 111)
  • Created an Anti-Racism resources section on the City website www.thunderbay.ca/antiracism (Recommendation 112)
  • Launching Incident Reporting, a partnership program between the City of Thunder Bay's Anti-Racism & Respect Committee and Diversity Thunder Bay, on June 27. People who experience or witness racism will have an opportunity to report it, to tell their story and be referred to resources for assistance. (Recommendation 112)
  • Conducted training and audits of watercourse / river areas known to be frequented by youth.  (Recommendation 115)
  • Proposing a First Nation Secondary School Pass Pilot Program for the 2017 - 2018 school year, subject to Council's approval. This subsidized pass is meant to help overcome barriers faced by students who come to Thunder Bay from northern communities with respect to transportation issues to and from school as well as when accessing City programs and recreational service opportunities. (Recommendations 78, 102)
  • Meeting, through the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, with various Federal and Provincial Ministers to discuss the need for funding to address the needs of urban Aboriginal residents. (Recommendation 120)