Midland Aboriginal Community

GBNFC building

      In 1984 the Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre was established to meet the needs of off reserve Aboriginal people integrating into mainstream and to provide a meeting place for them to gather to foster a sense of community. For the first 2 years they operated without core funding. With limited resources their location changed several times to adapt to their growth. During this time, they were required to rent space from other centres for workshops because they did not have the space to do that work. In 1995, they settled in a building which they built and designed specifically to meet their needs. There is even enough office space to rent to the Georgian Bay Native Women’s Association, a Board Room and a very large room known as the "Great Hall" which can hold up to 250 people comfortably.

      The Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre has a membership of approximately 300 people. Membership is open to non-Aboriginal people as well as long as they adopt the aims and objectives of the Friendship Centre. The majority of members have roots with Beausoleil First Nation with a recent increase in ties to other communities in Ontario and Manitoba.

      The ‘Great Hall’ offers opportunities for economic development such as Hall Rental for various gathering such as meetings, weddings, workshops, dances and other large entertainment needs . With a modern kitchen just off the hall, catering is also an option with the hall rental.

      In the past, economic development consisted of a Craft Shop, charity casinos and bingo’s. The spirit of entrepreneurship is nurtured by offering training in areas such as lifeskills, upgrading and personal development, and a Bartending and Cooking course.

GBNFC logo, by W.A.Monague Revenue is generated by Business opportunities that would flourish in this community are:

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