FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 12, 2026, Toronto, Ontario —The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) has announced that its Annual Youth Elections Assembly will take place July 15 – 16, 2026 at the Holiday Inn Express Hamilton. Followed by the 57th Annual General Meeting (AGM) taking place from July 17–19, 2026, at the Sheraton Hamilton, located at 116 King Street West, Hamilton, Ontario. 

This year’s AGM will bring together members, stakeholders, and leadership from across the province to review organizational performance, elect the Indigenous Youth Council (“IYC”), elect board members, honour long‑standing contributors to the Friendship Centre Movement who are now retiring, and outline strategic priorities for the coming years. 

This gathering will feature presentations from senior leadership, financial reporting, governance updates and elections, and multiple opportunities for member engagement throughout the event. 

Key agenda items include: 

  • Annual Report — Presentation of organizational highlights and fiscal year results 
  • Annual Youth Elections Assembly — Participation in cultural events, youth networking, presentation of the IYC annual report, and voting in new council members 
  • Friendship Centre Networking — Opportunities for Friendship Centre members to connect with peers from across the province and share best practices 
  • Board and Executive Committee Elections — Voting on new or returning board members 
  • Strategic Plan — Discussion and adoption of the new seven‑year strategic plan, following the sunset of the previous plan last year 
  • Member Resolutions — Consideration of motions submitted by members 

“This has been an exciting year for the OFIFC. We celebrate many achievements, including the appointment of Sean Longboat as Chief Executive Officer, transitioning from an interim role into a permanent one. Sean has led with clarity, integrity, steadiness, and humility, demonstrating a deep commitment to Friendship Centres, making this permanent appointment truly well-deserved. 

The OFIFC also demonstrated resilience through steadfast advocacy to reverse operational funding cuts, a huge triumph for our Ontario Friendship Centres. As we sunset our 20‑year strategic plan and transition to our new seven-year plan, we remain grounded in the voices of Friendship Centres and focused on the generations who will carry this work forward. This year’s meeting is an important opportunity to reflect on our progress and set the direction for the future” – Armand Jourdain Sr., OFIFC Board of Directors President. 

For media inquiries, please contact our communications department at: communications@ofifc.org  

About OFIFC
Founded in 1971, the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) works to support, advocate for, and build the capacity of 31-member Friendship Centres across Ontario. In Ontario more than 88% of Indigenous people live in urban communities. The OFIFC represents the largest urban Indigenous service network in the province supporting this vibrant, diverse, and quickly growing population through programs and initiatives that span justice, health, family support, long-term care, healing and wellness, employment and training, education, research, and more.