Decolonize the City of St. John’s municipal plan and all related processes, procedures, and policies, including the heritage bylaw.

Call for Change 19 evolves in response to increasing commitments to reconciliation in Northeast Avalon

Call for Change 19 was initially phrased in terms of the City of St. John’s only. In the past 2 years, there has been significant progress toward reconciliation in other municipalities of the Northeast Avalon. Notably, in September 2024, the City of Mount Pearl signed a declaration in support of truth and reconciliation. The signing of this declaration was an important step in Mount Pearl’s commitment to build respectful relationships with Indigenous communities and foster greater understanding of Indigenous rights.

The City of St. John’s continues to consult with First Light during planning processes and incorporate Indigenous knowledge and feedback into Neighbourhood Plans. To date, First Light has been a key contributor in drafting the Downtown, Cowan Heights, University Area, Rennie’s River, Central, and Mundy Pond Neighbourhood Plans.

In February 2026, the City of St. John’s approved a Heritage Strategic Plan, which contains a goal to expand understandings of heritage beyond Eurocentric history. This goal includes further commitment to work toward reconciliation with Indigenous residents and history.

Metro Reconciliation Partnership builds momentum across the Northeast Avalon

On June 3, 2026, First Light held the inaugural gathering of the Metro Reconciliation Partnership, bringing together partners, changemakers, and allies from the City of St. John’s, the City of Mount Pearl, the Town of Paradise, and the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s. The Partnership provides a regional structure through which First Light and participating municipalities can coordinate and sustain reconciliation efforts across the Northeast Avalon.

Early progress includes the creation of a permanent, municipally funded Indigenous Municipal Reconciliation Liaison, housed at First Light, to guide the City of St. John’s reconciliation efforts. The City of St. John’s, the City of Mount Pearl, and the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s have also formally recognized National Indigenous Peoples Day in place of the June Holiday. Additional progress includes funding support from the City of St. John’s toward First Light’s National Indigenous Peoples Day Community Celebration and a new mural in Mount Pearl increasing the public visibility of Indigenous Peoples.

First Light publishing toolkit to support Decolonization of Municipalities

The Decolonizing Municipal Governance Toolkit, developed by First Light with support from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF), provides a practical framework to help municipalities move beyond symbolic reconciliation toward meaningful, systemic change. The toolkit is informed by knowledge shared by municipalities across Canada, including the City of Halifax, the City of Saskatoon, the City of St. John’s, and the City of Winnipeg. Grounded in the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), it provides municipalities with a practical framework for advancing reconciliation and decolonizing municipal governance. The toolkit supports municipal governments in assessing their current practices, strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities, and embedding Indigenous rights and perspectives into policies, governance, and decision-making. Intended as a living resource rather than a final plan, it encourages continuous learning, reflection, and accountability as municipalities work toward more equitable and respectful governance. The Toolkit will be published in the fall of 2026.

For the City of St. John’s:

• Allocate appropriate resources to provide research and policy development support for the Metro Reconciliation Partnership to create a comprehensive multiyear work plan.

For the City of Mount Pearl and the Town of Paradise:

• Allocate appropriate resources to establish another Municipal Reconciliation Liaison for the Regional Reconciliation Circle.