When Travis Boissoneau conjures his vision for the future of Thunder Bay, he sees a community that’s welcoming and supportive to a new generation of Indigenous people arriving from the north.
He believes that Thunder Bay can be a leader when it comes to building race-relations.
“My challenge to Thunder Bay would be: You have to be a champion,” said Boissoneau.
“We have to lead the country with the work that we do, with the commitments that we make.”
Improving the lives of First Nations people has always been a passion for Boissoneau, 36, and one that’s led him on a successful career path working with a number of First Nations organizations.
Most recently, he was recruited to become the Chief Administrative Officer with Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a political organization representing close to 50 First Nations communities in northern Ontario.
Although he’s set down roots in northwestern Ontario, Boissoneau, who is a member of Garden River First Nation, actually hails from Toronto. He moved to Thunder Bay with his family at the age of 14.
“I really think we have to step up our game” – Travis Boissoneau
He’s now raising his own two children in Thunder Bay.
His children are part of his motivation for the work he does at NAN, he said.
“I know that the work that I do, and the work that we do … the outcomes will affect my children,” he said. “So I’m very committed to just working for the people as a whole.”
He’s also committed to the broader community, with wide-ranging involvement in everything from charity work, to sports.
Boissoneau recently joined the board of the United Way. He also runs a youth volleyball clinic in the city, and in past years has helped to organize a charity golf tournament for addictions treatment.
When it comes to building a more inclusive Thunder Bay, Boissoneau said he believes the city is making strides, but there’s still a lot of work to be done to improve race relations. Boissoneau sees that bridge-building as a shared, community responsibility.
“As much as we are doing some work, I really think we have to step up our game,” he said, adding that in his work with United Way, he hopes to be part of the development of a “gold standard,” cultural training program.
This week CBC Thunder Bay, and SHIFT, Thunder Bay’s Young Professionals Network, are partnering to profile young professionals in the city. Tune into CBC Radio Thunder Bay all week to meet some of the city’s young leaders.