IDEA Projects

For more information and an overview of the IAG’s 2025 community impact refer to the November 2025 Report to the District’s Finance and Corporate Services Committee.

IDEA Community Mural in the Township of Muskoka Lakes

A new IDEA Community Mural was created in the Port Carling Public Library. Like the two community murals created in 2024, this new mural promotes the importance of the IDEA principles and encourages a #HateFreeMuskoka. The Port Carling Public Library was a perfect location for an IDEA Community Mural as it has strong traffic throughout the year from both year-round and seasonal residents.

The same artist who painted the first two murals in 2024, Jim Bravo, was contracted again in 2025. Due to limited wall space, Jim painted a series of murals throughout the library. Working with Elder Christopher Stock, a member of Wahta Mohawks First Nation and an Indigenous cultural educator, Jim created these murals to celebrate the beauty of Muskoka's natural elements and honour the teachings found in the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, also known as Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen.

Images of the new murals, including explanations of the themes and rich IDEA symbolism, and links to the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen in both English and Haudenosaunee, have been added to the Muskoka IDEA Community Mural Project page on the Engage Muskoka platform.

Community Outreach 

The IAG hit the road and participated in four community events as a way to share information about IAG initiatives, to spread the principles of celebrating diversity, promoting inclusion and combatting hate, and to encourage people to sign up for the IDEA newsletter.

The IAG set up a #HateFreeMuskoka outreach booth, gave away #HateFreeMuskoka swag and engaged with residents and visitors at the following events:

• Bracebridge 150 Celebration (Town of Bracebridge);
• Muskoka Pride (Town of Bracebridge);
• Honey Bee Festival (Township of Georgian Bay); and
• Cranberry Festival (Township of Muskoka Lakes).

The four events involved seven days of outreach and engaged over 2,800 people. Feedback from members of the public was overwhelmingly positive. Community outreach will continue in 2026 with a focus on the Town of Huntsville, the Town of Gravenhust and the Township of Lake of Bays.

Hate Stops Here Portal

In 2025 the Hate Stops Here Portal was formally launched. This portal provides information about the IDEA Advisory Group, outlines the impact the IAG is having on communities in Muskoka and encourages others to join the movement and take a stand against hate.

In addition, the Hate Stops Here Portal provides an opportunity for residents and visitors to report on incidents of hate they witness in Muskoka. This tool will help both the IAG and Council better understand how hate is showing up in the community and use this information to make better decisions about the projects and initiatives that will effectively mitigate hate.

Hate-Free Muskoka Symposium 2025 - Advancing Allyship: Building Kinder Communities

Following up on the 2022 Hate-Free Muskoka Symposium, the 2025 Hate-Free Muskoka (Advancing Allyship: Building Kinder Communities) took place on November 7 and 8 at the Active Living Centre in Huntsville.

Although each day had a different audience and focus, both days were dedicated to deepening inclusion, diversity, equity, anti-racism, and belonging in Muskoka. Both days were free for all participants.

The first day of the symposium was focussed on youth and youth-serving agencies and was organized in partnership with Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions.

The second day of the symposium was aimed at partner agencies, businesses and community members. Participants learned how to foster more inclusive spaces and address intersectionality, as well as combat hateful and harmful actions through allyship and bystander interventions.

Over the two days, more than 180 people were involved in the 2025 Symposium, a 225% increase from the 2022 Symposium. Representatives from more than 25 partner agencies and other organizations participated over the two-days, as well 62 high school students and 11 teachers and principals.

IAG Diversity Calendar

In 2025, the IAG finalized the IAG Diversity Calendar which was approved by District Council in April. The dates included will be the focus of future IAG outreach, recognition and remembrance and were chosen with a diversity, equity and inclusion lens.  Other organizations within Muskoka are encouraged to use the IAG Diversity Calendar to help guide their own remembrance initiatives.  

For more information on an overview of the IAG’s 2024 community impact refer to the December 2024 Report to the District’s Finance and Corporate Services Committee.

Diversity and Inclusion Training for Small Employers

In 2024 the IAG sponsored training for small employers in Muskoka to help promote diversity and inclusion within their teams and business model. The goal of this initiative was to ensure workplaces in Muskoka are free from discrimination. There were six virtual workshops offered between Sept 10 and Nov 14 on Indigenous Awareness, Safer Spaces 2S-LGBTQ+ Awareness and Bystander Intervention. In total, 182 participants and 31 small employers were involved. 

IDEA Community Grants

The purpose of the IDEA Community Grant Program is to amplify the efforts of the IAG in creating opportunities for community engagement and public education around the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-hate. In total, 13 grants were awarded. Funded projects are underway now and will be concluded by the end of 2026.

Community Murals

In 2024, two Community IDEA Murals were created. These community murals promote the importance of the IDEA principles, and in particular, encourage a #HateFreeMuskoka. The two murals are connected not only by style and imagery, but also by theme. One is located in the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre in Bracebridge and one is located on 205 Muskoka Road South facing Hotchkiss Street.

IDEA Community Grants

In 2023 the IAG launched the IDEA Community Grant program to amplify the efforts of the IAG in creating opportunities for community engagement and public education around the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-hate. In total, 23 eligible applications were received and evaluated and nine projects were funded, including the Hate Has No Place Here sign campaign in partnership with Muskoka Pride. For more information on the funded projects and community impact refer to the April 17 2023 Report to District Council.

IDEA Advisory Group Recruitment 

The IAG completed a comprehensive recruitment process and onboarded new members to join as either a Partner or Champion (members with lived experience of discrimination). To see a full list of IAG members, including partner agencies, please see the IAG Member Profile.

Muskoka District Council Declares Muskoka a Hate Free Community

As a result of the 2022 Hate Free Muskoka Symposium hosted by the IAG, District Council declared Muskoka a hate free community on March 2023. For more information see the Report to District Council. 

Strategic Action Plan 2022 - 2026

In late 2021 and early 2022, the IAG held strategic planning workshops to look at how IDEA could best impact the community, business, public and private organizations and become an effective advisory body to Muskoka District Council. In March 2022 District Council approved the IAG’s multi-year Strategic Action Plan. For more information on the IDEA Advisory Group Strategic Action Plan 2022-2026.

Hate Free Muskoka Symposium

Recognizing that anti-hate is a unifying theme for all equity-deserving populations, the IAG hosted a one-day event to prevent hate. The event was officially called Hate Free Muskoka: Recognize and Respond to Hate in Our Community and was held on November 5, 2022, at the Rene M Caisse Theatre in Bracebridge. In total there were approximately 100 participants at the symposium, including volunteers, committee members and speakers / panelists. For more information see the Report to District Council. 

Learn more about the event here.