The Prime Ministers Path: Collective Reflections, Future Directions
The concept of the Prime Ministers Path started in 2013 with a group of citizens raising money to honor Canada’s political history. For more than 10 years, it has been a sensitive project that has stirred up thoughts and feelings for many community members.
This current initiative is the direct result of the March 2024 Wilmot Council decision to move forward with a working group to help shape the future of the path. The Township of Wilmot has embarked on a community engagement project with the intention that this work will form the future of Prime Ministers Path. It embodies the Township’s commitment to transparency and is an opportunity to return to the principle of connecting deeply with community and community members. It is a step towards collaboration in the decision-making process in the Township of Wilmot.
The Township issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) that closed August 2024. Wilmot awarded the contract for consulting services to Land Use Research Associates Inc. (LURA). LURA bring a wealth of experience to this engagement process, including a highly qualified team to lead and support the Township with this project.
Key aspects of The Public Engagement Process for the Future of the Prime Ministers Path include:
- The creation of a working group to ensure broad and fair representation in the Prime Ministers Path discussion. This group will form part of the overall engagement process.
- Development and implementation of a community engagement plan, based on the findings of the working group and including visioning and value discussions, with the objective of providing Council with information that can support them in moving forward with next steps for the Prime Ministers Path.
The estimated timeline for these deliverables is:
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Prime Ministers Path engagement plan development and training for the working group will take place in the fall of 2024.
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The working group will be launched in the fall of 2024.
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The Prime Ministers Path engagement plan will roll out in the fall of 2024.
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Engagement will be completed by 2025.
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Recommendations will be compiled in 2025.
Engage in the Process
You are invited to engage in this process and there are many ways you may participate:
- Social Media: Follow us on our social media platforms (Facebook, X, YouTube) for updates and opportunities to provide your thoughts.
- Email Updates: Subscribe to updates via Engage Wilmot | EngageWR to stay informed about updates and upcoming engagement opportunities. Subscribers receive project newsletters by way of email, providing periodic project updates.
- Surveys: Participate in surveys and community polls that will be distributed to gather further insights from residents.
- Community Poll 1: Emotions - complete
- Community Reflections 1: What does community mean to you? What are the important elements? - complete
- Community Poll 2: Learning - complete
- Community Feedback Survey - completed February 16, 2025
- Community Gathering #2 - Virtual Feedback Opportunity - Completed March 12, 2025 (This survey was a virtual version of the feedback opportunities that were offered to those who attended Community Gathering #2 on March 5, 2025.)
- Community Meetings: Attend the upcoming meetings to discuss ideas and share feedback in person. Please register in advance if you are able.
| Upcoming Special Council Meeting and Community Gathering |
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May 12, 2025 6:00 p.m. Special Council Meeting in Council Chambers - Hybrid, 60 Snyder's Road West Baden The Working Group’s recommendations will be shared with Council at this meeting dedicated solely for the Prime Ministers Path Engagement Project. There will be a staff report to introduce the recommendations, and Council will have the opportunity to discuss, ask questions and provide their input. Delegations will be permitted to address Council regarding the recommendations. Those who wish to delegate can find more information on delegating to Council online and complete the Delegation Request Form to register. Written submissions to council regarding this topic can also be sent via email to clerks@wilmot.ca and will be provided to Councillors in advance of the meeting, published as part of the agenda and added to the permanent record. Please visit the township website for more information on written submissions. Please note that the Special Council Meeting Agenda containing a Staff Report and recommendations will be published on the Township website. The meeting will also be streamed live on the Township's YouTube channel for those that cannot attend in person. May 28, 2025 Community Gathering #3 (April 2 Gathering rescheduled) at Wilmot Community Centre The third Community Gathering was rescheduled from April 2 to May 28 to ensure that when the community gathers after Council has received the Working Group's recommendations and that there is clarity on what happens next. Details regarding the format of this Gathering and what to expect will be communicated after the Special Council Meeting on May 12, 2025. Please subscribe to email updates by click "Follow" on Engage Wilmot | EngageWR to receive the most up to date information. |
| Past Engagement Sessions (from November 2024) |
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Tuesday, November 12, 2024 - First Community Gathering: Connections & Information 100 members of the community attended this open house/drop-in style event between 4:30 and 8:00pm held at the Wilmot Recreation Complex. Attendees had the opportunity to meet the engagement team and learn about the process and how to get involved. Thursday, December 12, 2024 (hybrid) Tea Circle - Community Reflections: the project, the community, history Around 30 members of the community attended this reflective conversation in person and virtually, to share their thoughts and listen to each other in a respectful and inclusive circle discussion about the project, the community and history. The discussion was led by project co-leads Benny Skinner and Denise Soueidan-O'Leary of LURA. Monday, January 13, 2025 (hybrid) Tea Circle - History: who tells it, how it's told, who is left out Over 30 members of the community attended online and in person to hear a mini lecture from project co-lead, Benny Skinner, about the recording and telling of history. Following the lecture, all attendees participated in a group discussion on the same topic, which was led by both project co-leads, Benny Skinner and Denise Soueidan-O'Leary of LURA. Attendees also received an update of what we have heard so far from the community, which can be found on Engage Wilmot | EngageWR under the 'Documents' section. Wednesday, February 12, 2025 (online only) Tea Circle - Community Input After a difficult decision to cancel the in-person portion of the Tea Circle due to severe weather, nearly 50 members of the community joined in the conversation via Zoom. During this gathering, attendees shared their thoughts and provided their input about the project and it's future. Wednesday, March 5, 2025 (in Person) Community Gathering #2 - Collective Reflections More than 60 members of the community attended the second Community Gathering, a drop-in style engagement event giving a first look at the draft recommendations of the Working Group and seeking out community reflections and suggestions for their consideration. The Engagement Team values the thoughts and suggestions of all community members, including those who were unable to attend this meeting, and a virtual feedback opportunity was made available from March 6 to March 12, 2025. This survey was a virtual version of the feedback opportunities that were offered to those who attended Community Gathering #2. |
| Council Meetings to Date Regarding Prime Ministers Path |
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Since June, 2020, the topic of the Prime Ministers Path has been discussed at various Township of Wilmot Council Meetings. The links below provide details related to those meetings, including Agendas, Minutes and submissions from delegations. All meetings can be viewed on the Township's YouTube channel. |
| Media Coverage | ||
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| First Peoples Group Engagement and Findings | ||
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First Peoples Group completed its report for the Prime Ministers Path Public Engagement in July 2021. The information is included here and in the Council Agenda Package for the Special Council Meeting that took place at 6 p.m. on July 5, 2021, over a digital platform due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Following the July 5, 2021, Council Meeting, a media release was circulated about the decision to remove and store the remain statues on the Path. On July 7, 2021, the remaining statues were removed and the Township issued another media release to advise the public. On July 27, 2020, the Council for the Township of Wilmot adopted a Notice of Motion to undertake public engagement of the Prime Ministers Path and the Sir John A. Macdonald statue located on the east portion of the Township's Administration Complex property. First Peoples Group was been retained to design and lead the engagement strategy and worked with a Township working group to prepare for this process starting in the spring of 2021. Public Announcement of the Launch of the Prime Ministers Path Community Engagement Process The working group for this project consisted of Councillors Barry Fisher and Jenn Pfenning, the CAO, the Director of Information and Legislative Services/Municipal Clerk, the Director of Corporate Services, the Curator/Director of Castle Kilbride, the Assistant Curator, the Communications Specialist, and the Manager of Legislative Services/Deputy Clerk. This staff working group worked with the First Peoples Group. The project lead from First Peoples Group is Melissa Hammel, Vice President. First Peoples Group designed and will lead the engagement while the staff working group provides them with the local resources to carry out the engagement and advises on the local community partners or members who have indicated their desire to be involved. The agendas of each meeting will be posted here. The minutes of each meeting were posted here as approved by the working group.
First Peoples Group provided bi-weekly updates, which were posted here. On April 21, 2021, a media release was circulated introducing the engagement process. |
Project Funding
Funding for the Prime Ministers Path project has come from multiple sources.
Between 2020 and the end of 2024, $162,177.37 was spent on the Prime Ministers Path.
$45,000 of that amount was paid for by a grant from the federal government. The remaining $117,177.37 was supported by the tax base.
Cost Breakdown
- $12,657.41 for legal advice (2020)
- $29,205.12 for statue storage (2020 onward)
- $29,408.64 for statue removal (2020 and 2021)
- $45,792 to the First Peoples Group for the first round of public engagement (2021)
- $45,114.20 LURA for PMP Engagement Project (ongoing)
Contacts