BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, SUPPORTING FAMILIES: THIRD ANNUAL TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION GATHERING
Sixty business executives, public servants, First Nations leaders, and allies gathered at Aiāna Restaurant in Ottawa on September 23, 2026, for an evening dedicated to reconciliation, relationship-building, and supporting Akwesasne families.
The third annual Truth and Reconciliation gathering brought guests together over conversation and dinner, creating space to strengthen relationships and explore the shared responsibility of advancing reconciliation.
The event was founded by Devinder Chaudhary, an Ottawa entrepreneur, community leader, and 2024 recipient of the Order of Ottawa. Through Aiāna Restaurant Collective and his broader community involvement, Chaudhary has made reconciliation and social responsibility an important part of his work in Ottawa.
Chaudhary assembled an organizing committee that included Natalie Jacobs, Liaison Officer with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA); Alia Butt, Executive Director of the Canadian Human Rights Commission; Gina Wilson, former Deputy Minister of Indigenous Services Canada; consultant Aideen Nabigon; Chetan Sharma of OC Transpo; Suzanne Cooper of the Canadian Human Rights Commission; Devinder Chaudhary; and Raghav Chaudhary of Aiāna.
This year, net proceeds from the event were directed to the MCA’s Akwesasne Family Wellness Program (AFWP), which provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and healing services to individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity and other challenges.
AFWP supported approximately 300 children and adults last year, providing crisis intervention, safety planning, counselling, advocacy, and ongoing support to individuals and families facing difficult circumstances. The $71,350 raised through corporate and individual donations will support the construction of an onsite outdoor pavilion and kitchen.
The new outdoor space will provide opportunities for families to take part in cultural programming, family gatherings, workshops, teachings, and other community-based activities. It will also offer a welcoming environment where clients and families can connect with one another and with nature while continuing their healing journey in a supportive setting.
The support for AFWP continues a tradition established by the Truth and Reconciliation gathering. Previous events raised funds for Minwaashin Lodge, an Indigenous women’s support organization in Ottawa that works to strengthen food security for families accessing its services.
The evening began with opening remarks from MCA District Chief Tesha Rourke. Terry Goodtrack, President and CEO of AFOA Canada, served as master of ceremonies, guiding guests through the evening. The keynote address was delivered by Gina Wilson, who spoke about the importance of continued engagement and relationship-building among Indigenous communities, governments, institutions, and the private sector. Guests also heard remarks from representatives of RBC and Jaime Beechey, MCA’s Director of Community & Social Services, who spoke on behalf of AFWP.
Aiāna Executive Chef Raghav Chaudhary prepared the evening’s dinner alongside Chef Anna Cote of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg. Cote returned for the third consecutive year, bringing her culinary expertise and individual flair to the evening’s menu.
Among the guests were Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and representatives from RBC, Meridian Credit Union, EY, Bell, the Ottawa International Airport Authority, Adirondak Information Management, Makwas Resourcing, and Stratus Vineyards. Allies from organizations including the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Employment and Social Development Canada, and Canadian Heritage also attended.
As the evening came to a close, the gathering reflected a broader message: reconciliation is not a single event or conversation, nor is it solely the responsibility of government. It is an ongoing commitment strengthened through relationships — each time people come together to listen, learn, support one another, and take meaningful action.
Through this year’s gathering, that commitment translated into tangible support for Akwesasne families and the continued work of the Akwesasne Family Wellness Program.
Photos provided by Tia MacPherson-Abdulla, Ottawa Business Journal.
