Sault Ste. Marie and Garden River First Nation strengthen economic development partnership

An existing partnership between the City of Sault Ste. Marie and neighbouring Garden River First Nation is now stronger. Cory Nordstrom explains.

A historic partnership between Garden River First Nation and the City of Sault Ste. Marie has reached a new milestone with the completion of the Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI). A signing ceremony held recently marked the formalization of this strengthened collaboration, aimed at fostering economic growth and breaking down long-standing barriers between the neighbouring communities.

For years, the two communities operated in silos, often excluding one another from planning processes. Garden River First Nation Chief Karen Bell described the divide as an “invisible line” that both sides were acutely aware of.

“Everyone in the community was very well aware where that invisible line was – and vice versa,” said Bell.

“We saw it kind of not stepped into each other’s lane and this CEDI initiative has broken those barriers.”

Since 2023, the communities have participated in a series of training sessions facilitated by the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). These sessions focused on cultural understanding, economic development and relationship-building.

Ryan Walker-Melton, a CEDI program officer with CANDO, explained the program’s approach to CTV News.

“We do a workshop right off the bat to get everybody in the same room – councils, leadership, staff, anybody who is going to have a hand in the work that’s being done. Over the course of these three years, they start with relationship building, getting acquainted with the histories and realities, the jurisdiction, all of those kinds of things of their partner community,” he said.

The initiative also includes a $45,000 grant, which the partners have used to explore a joint transit initiative. Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker highlighted the practical benefits of the collaboration, saying, “The groups have been working together on things like seeing if transit service can be extended into Garden River and exploring options for industrial land available in Garden River or in the City of Sault Ste. Marie. As projects become known to us, we can find the best place to locate them.”

Tanya Tourangeau of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities emphasized the broader impact of the CEDI program across Canada.

“We’ve had nearly 500 applications across Canada,” she said.

“The impact we’re seeing is tremendous – not only social impact but thriving economies that are being built together based on win-win partnerships.”

With the success of this CEDI program, Sault Ste. Marie’s leadership said they have already begun reaching out to Batchewana First Nation to build a stronger relationship.

Officials from both communities – Garden River and the Sault – said this partnership stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, setting a precedent for other communities across Canada to follow.

Meanwhile, municipalities interested in replicating this model can access toolkits and templates on the CEDI website.