Truth & Reconciliation
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is committed to advancing truth and reconciliation through sound governance, meaningful action, respectful relationships, and ongoing learning. We recognize that reconciliation is a responsibility that requires our accountability and sustained commitment.
Independent Review
The RWB Board of Directors commissioned an independent governance and operational review by MNP Consulting. The review examined where organizational and governance processes fell short and identified opportunities to strengthen our approach to reconciliation:
1. Rebuild trust and strengthen relationships with Indigenous partners through meaningful engagement, listening, and accountability.
2. Establish a formal Indigenous Relations advisory role to help guide reconciliation efforts across the organization.
3. Ensure future Indigenous advisory structures have clear mandates, governance oversight, and defined responsibilities from the outset.
4. Create formal communication and reporting protocols between advisory groups, management, senior leadership, and the Board.
5. Embed reconciliation commitments into governance practices, including Board recruitment, orientation, and training.
6. Strengthen governance and accountability structures across advisory committees and organizational decision-making.
7. Expand Indigenous history, cultural literacy, anti-racism, and reconciliation education for leadership and staff.
8. Align reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion goals with the organization’s strategic and operational planning.
Action Plan
Our work is informed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action that are most closely aligned with our role as a national arts organization:
Call to Action 57:
Education for public servants on Indigenous history, intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
Calls to Action 62 and 63:
Education and capacity building related to Indigenous history, cultures, and perspectives.
Call to Action 79:
Integration of Indigenous history, heritage, values, memory, and perspectives into Canadian culture and commemoration.
Call to Action 83:
Support for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to undertake collaborative projects and create works that contribute to reconciliation.
Call to Action 91:
Support for Indigenous participation and leadership in sport and cultural activities.
Governance, Guidance, and Accountability
Indigenous Guidance
Following recommendations from the independent review, we engaged Indigenous advisor Rhonda Forgues of Spirited Ways Consulting to support our ongoing truth and reconciliation work.
Working alongside leadership and staff, Rhonda Forgues provides strategic guidance as we strengthen relationships with Indigenous artists, communities, and partners, and continue integrating reconciliation into our governance, programs, organizational practices, and long-term planning.
Rhonda is currently leading the development of a Truth and Reconciliation Framework that will align with and enhance the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan. The framework will establish a long-term approach to embedding truth and reconciliation across governance, leadership, operations, relationships, and artistic practice, while strengthening organizational accountability and guiding future priorities.
Education and Learning
Following recommendations from the independent review and earlier guidance from the former Indigenous Advisory Circle, members of our Board and leadership team have participated in Indigenous history, cultural literacy, and anti-racism training through The TIPI Group of Companies. This learning strengthens our understanding and informs governance, decision-making, and relationships across the organization.
We are committed to ongoing learning opportunities for Board members, leadership, staff, faculty, and artists, recognizing that education is an essential part of advancing truth and reconciliation.
Transparency and Accountability
We are committed to transparency with our partners, patrons, and the public as this work continues to evolve.
Watch for updates here and in our annual reporting.
We welcome feedback from the community throughout this process. Please share your comments with us at customerservice@rwb.org.
Reconciliation in Practice
On the Edge Tour
Featuring dancers from the Anna McCowan-Johnson Aspirant Program, the highest level of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, the On the Edge Tour brings professional dance performances to schools and communities across the Prairies, including Indigenous communities.
Each tour stop transforms community spaces, from school gyms to multipurpose rooms, into pop-up performance venues complete with professional lighting, sound, staging, and portable dance flooring, creating an immersive live performance experience for audiences of all ages.
As part of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation and community engagement, the On the Edge Tour visits on-reserve schools at no cost to the host school.
The tour also creates opportunities for meaningful cultural exchange. Host schools are invited to share performances, songs, dances, or cultural presentations with the visiting RWB students, creating space for connection, learning, and shared artistic expression.
Partnerships are flexible and relationship focused, with respect for local ceremony, protocols, and community priorities.
To learn more about booking the tour, email school@rwb.org.
Community Dance
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division’s Concert Hour Ballet Tour sends senior students across Winnipeg and Manitoba to share the artistry and athleticism of dance with audiences in schools and community spaces.
This program serves a dual purpose: introducing audiences to the experience of live ballet while providing aspiring professional dancers with valuable touring and performance experience.
The RWB School believes everyone should have the opportunity to experience the physical, emotional, and social benefits of dance. In addition to touring performances, the School offers free Community Dance classes and outreach activities throughout the year.
These programs foster creativity, confidence, collaboration, and self-expression while helping make dance more accessible to communities across Manitoba.
To date, RWB School community programming has reached more than 7,500 participants across the province.
As part of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation, these programs are offered free of charge to Indigenous schools and community groups.
To learn more about booking a program, email school@rwb.org.
Community Access to Performances
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is committed to increasing access to the performing arts and creating opportunities for communities who may not traditionally have had access to attend live ballet performances.
Each season, the organization works with community partners and Indigenous organizations to provide complimentary tickets to selected RWB performances for schools, youth groups, families, and community organizations.
Interested community groups can email customerservice@rwb.org for more information.
Ceremony and Cultural Exchanges
At the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, we recognize that ceremony, cultural protocols, and Indigenous ways of gathering are vital expressions of knowledge, connection, and community. We are committed to creating spaces where these traditions are welcomed and honoured.
Guided by community, we invite Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous advisors to share their wisdom and perspectives within RWB spaces. We understand that knowledge is shared through relationship, and we are committed to building and sustaining those relationships with care and respect. Their presence enriches our learning and informs our artistic practice.
These exchanges may take many forms, including opening remarks, teachings, ceremony, cultural guidance, and opportunities to gather and learn together. We are grateful for the knowledge shared with us and remain committed to listening and moving forward together with trust and gratitude.