The Ontario Human rights commissioner is in Timmins for the second time this year.

Renu Mandhane is back after her visit to Timmins in March, providing training on topics concerning human rights and Truth and Reconciliation steps for Indigenous and Civic members of the community. Mandhane’s last visit sparked controversy in the city when she reported on the pervasiveness of racism Indigenous People face in Timmins. She says the people she’s met with this time around have brought goodwill and a positive attitude to the table.

Among those meeting for educational training and meetings this week are senior members of the community from almost every sector, including policing, child welfare, health care, mental health and the shelter system.

“The quality of people who are coming, they’re the right people,” Mandhane said. “They’re people who are actually providing service in the community, they’re leaders. They’re the people who can make change. Which is who we hope to come to an event like this.

“People really brought a lot of goodwill and honesty to the table,” Mandhane continued. “And I think just getting people in a room together is a real basis for meaningful relationships.”

When Mandhane was in Timmins in March of this year, there was a strong sense, as Mandhane puts it, of two realities in Timmins: one that most residents in Timmins experience and one that the Indigenous population faces almost daily. Mandhane says the two groups simply coming together and talking is helping with tensions.

“I think there’s a re-opening of a willingness to have difficult conversations that may not have been there before,” said Mandhane. “We’re pleased because I think the conversations are happening and people are at the table and that was the first step.”

The Ontario Human Rights Commission has come back to Timmins much earlier than the original estimated Spring 2019 date. Mandhane says she saw real momentum for change from the community following her first visit, and the OHRC wanted to come back to Timmins and help direct that momentum towards positive change.

“We had always planned to come back,” Mandhane said, “I think we also were following what happened after our first visit and really sensing from the city, a momentum. And I think we wanted to be a part of that momentum. And I’ll say, our staff worked really hard to move up the timelines by many many months. But we felt it was important to be here when that openness was there.”

Now that they’re back in the city, the OHRC can only do so much to move Timmins towards a more tolerant future.

“This is our attempt, anyway, to get people together,” Mandhane said. “I think, what the Commission can do is use our position and influence to get people to a table. But what happens after that, obviously, is up to the local leaders and how they feel this relationship can evolve into the future.”

Mandhane spoke of her previous trip to Timmins and the findings the Commission discovered into the racism Indigenous People here face as a part of their daily life.

“People sort of said, ‘this is just a part of life, I can’t file a complaint every day for small things or even big things that happen,'” Mandhane said. “So I think the reaction was interesting because I think there was a defensiveness, which is very normal; that’s not unique to Timmins. But I think it gave voice for Indigenous People to finally say, ‘no, actually, this is a fair assessment.’ And a lot of Indigenous People said it just created space to have that conversation.”

Mandhane touched on the reaction Mayor Steve Black had to her first visit, and the quick action he took to make changes and preserve the reputation of the City with a Heart of Gold.

“What’s really heartening when we come to smaller Municipalities is there’s this real ability to do things quickly and proactively that actually positions them to be leaders on Reconciliation,” said Mandhane. “Our hope is that Timmins becomes […] the leader on these initiatives. And I think it’s really well positioned to do that.”

Now, Mandhane says, it’s up to the residents and leaders of Timmins to help keep the conversation on Reconciliation going.

“I think there’s a lot we can learn from Truth and Reconciliation. I think people want to move to Reconciliation first because it’s comfortable to just starts to do the work. But I think that Truth piece is actually really important. And unless you understand the reality of other people living in your community, it’s very hard to have Reconciliation initiatives that are actually meaningful for the people in your community.”

For more information on the Ontario Human Rights Commission and their teachings and resources, you can go to their website here.