As sage smoke wafted up, the knowledge holder gently waved an eagle feather from side to side, enveloping the booklet. And with that, the ground-breaking Guide to Truth and Reconciliation in Land Development was cleansed, blessed, and released to the world.
The moment was fitting. ULI Toronto and Shared Path Consultation Initiative demonstrated what Indigenous/non-Indigenous collaboration looks like as, together, they launched “Answering the Call to Action 92: A Guide for Truth and Reconciliation in Corporate Responsibility and Land Development.”
This resource is the first sector-specific framework in Canada to guide the real estate and land development industries on a meaningful path toward truth and reconciliation. It was codeveloped through a multiyear workshop series cohosted by ULI Toronto, Shared Path, and Canadian companies Allied REIT and Westbank, with more than 30 participating local and national real estate organizations. It was informed by Indigenous advisers, elders, and knowledge holders, including contributor Bob Goulais, principal of Nbisiing Consulting.
Richard Joy, ULI Toronto’s executive director, released the guide at an event on June 26 in partnership with Carolyn King, board chair of Shared Path and former chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN). The event took place on 370 acres (150 ha) of land under development by Northcrest Developments in Toronto, as the guide features a case study of Northcrest’s collaboration with local treaty holder MCFN and other First Nations rights holders in the territory.
ULI Toronto was recently awarded the ULI District Council’s inaugural Equity in Real Estate Award for its development and championing of the guide.
During the launch at Northcrest’s YZD Experience Centre, in keeping with Indigenous practices, MCFN knowledge holder Mark Sault led an Anishinaabe ceremony, with support from Bob Goulais. An audience of 75 planners, architects, and developers witnessed an honor song and drum circle by the Ninjiichaag Singers and the ceremonial smudging of the guide. Northcrest—alongside developers Tridel and TAS, and law firm Aird & Berlis LLP—shared the concrete actions they are taking on their journeys toward truth and reconciliation.
The guide responds directly to number 92 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, which urges the corporate sector in Canada to “adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples [UNDRIP] as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources.”
The government of Canada signed this United Nations declaration in 2010 and, in 2021, passed legislation that advances the declaration’s enactment.
Building on that progress, the guide outlines four focus areas: governance and codevelopment, education, equity and economic opportunity, and relationship building. It offers actionable steps for real estate developers, planners, and corporate leaders including:
- Building meaningful relationships and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples before proceeding with development projects
- Ensuring that Indigenous Peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and long-term economic benefits of development projects
- Educating management and staff on the history and present-day circumstances of Indigenous Peoples, including about the traditional territory and treaty lands where an organization works, operates, builds, or some combination of the three
“This guide is more than a resource—it’s a call to leadership,” said Salima Rawji, chair of ULI Toronto and president and CEO of York University Development Corporation. “It challenges our industry to go beyond land acknowledgments and make reconciliation a living, measurable part of how we build and operate.”
Urban planners, designers, and real estate developers can play a key role in ensuring that Indigenous Peoples are part of—and benefit from—land use planning and development, and that urban spaces acknowledge and reflect the traditional stewards of the lands.
In a primer developed for the workshop series, Shared Path explains: “Indigenous Peoples have inherent rights to their land, to access resources, to self-determination and self-government, and to practice their own culture and customs. These rights are not confined to reserves. The Canadian Constitution recognizes these rights, along with rights negotiated through treaties. Exercising these rights in cities is made difficult when Indigenous nations are excluded from decision-making, including in land-use planning and development.”
The guide’s case study showcases the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Northcrest and MCFN as that document relates to the development of YZD, formerly the Downsview Airport lands in the north end of Toronto. The MOU formalizes the relationship, commitments, and responsibilities, and offers tangible examples of what meaningful engagement can look like.
Northcrest’s motivation is spelled out clearly in the case study: “Proactive and collaborative problem-solving through early engagement allows Indigenous Peoples and companies alike to avoid disagreements and potential conflicts later in a project’s lifecycle. It is a risk mitigation strategy with many additional upsides like equity partnership and procurement.”
Northcrest and MCFN have organized their MOU in the areas of economic and commercial opportunities; design and place keeping; and education, training, and skills development.
Some companies in Canada and abroad are responding to calls for truth and reconciliation, and for the implementation of UNDRIP by developing a reconciliation action plan (RAP). A RAP outlines practical actions that an organization commits to take toward reconciliation in the workplace and economy. Examples of these actions in Canada’s building industry are Aecon, CBRE, TAS, and Tridel.
As Carolyn King summarizes it, “Shared Path is proud of the work and collaboration that has resulted in this guide, which we see as a tool to inspire corporate Canada to embrace true collaboration, co-development, and Indigenous leadership. Our hope is that this guide is used as a tool to foster more collaboration and inclusion of Indigenous voices across the land development industry.”
To learn more about ULI Toronto’s programming and resources on truth and reconciliation in land development, visit https://toronto.uli.org/getinvolved/truth-and-reconciliation/.
