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Reconciliation is Local: Make Friends with Your Friendship Centre

Ontario Friendship Centres launch 2026 municipal election campaign calling for practical local action on reconciliation 

Toronto, ON – September 14, 2026 – The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) is launching Reconciliation is Local: Make Friends with Your Friendship Centre, a province-wide campaign calling on municipalities, candidates, community leaders, and residents to build meaningful relationships with Friendship Centres and advance reconciliation through local action.  

Reconciliation is often framed as a federal or provincial responsibility, but most Indigenous people now live in cities and towns. According to the 2021 Census, 88% of Indigenous people in Ontario live off reserve. Every day, municipal governments make decisions about housing, transportation, emergency management, public health, community safety, recreation, land use, and economic development. These decisions have a direct and often profound impact on urban Indigenous people and communities.  

“As voters head to the polls, reconciliation has to be part of the everyday work of building strong communities,” said Sean Longboat, Chief Executive Officer of the OFIFC. “Friendship Centres are already doing this work. We understand the realities facing urban Indigenous people and are ready to work with municipalities to build practical, lasting solutions.” 

Across 31 communities, Ontario Friendship Centres employ more than 930 frontline staff and provide culturally grounded, Indigenous–led wraparound programs and services that support health, housing stability, food security, youth, employment and training, community safety, emergency response, cultural connection and much more. Last year alone, Friendship Centres housed 1,867 people, provided 88,521 food supports, and supported 3,624 people to begin school, employment, or life skills training.  

The campaign outlines practical steps municipalities can take, including: 

  • Recognize Friendship Centres as essential Indigenous partners and develop reciprocal partnerships; 
  • Ensure land acknowledgements recognize both the traditional stewards of the land and contemporary urban Indigenous communities; 
  • Share municipal land, space, funding and in-kind resources to strengthen Indigenous-led initiatives and improve access to culturally grounded services; 
  • Provide Indigenous cultural competency training for elected officials and municipal staff; 
  • Embed reconciliation across municipal government, including housing, land use, transportation, public health, community safety, recreation, emergency response and economic development; and  
  • Invest in Indigenous-led, community=driven solutions  

The campaign also highlights opportunities for collaboration on housing and homelessness, emergency management, and Indigenous youth well-being, belonging, and opportunity – areas where municipal decisions have a significant impact. 

“Municipalities don’t have to figure this out on their own,” said Longboat. “The first step is simple: build a relationship with your Friendship Centre.“ 

As Ontario heads into the 2026 municipal election, the OFIFC is encouraging candidates to connect with their local Friendship Centre and learn how they can work together.

For more information, see our campaign paper

Reconciliation is Local. Make Friends with Your Friendship Centre.  

Media Contact
Jennifer McPhee
Senior Communications Advisor
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
jmcphee@ofifc.org
416-453-7354 

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.