Business concerns sparked the meeting—now it’s invite-only, media are restricted, and the City’s reframing raises doubts about whether business owners' concerns will truly be heard.
We’re really just interested in documenting the concerns of business owners, as that was the original purpose of the meeting. We invite attendees to share their experiences with us by emailing owensoundcurrenteditor@gmail.com. We will make those public record and part of our community’s archive.
As a long time subscriber and supporter of transparency and local journalism, here's my complete reply to your email on Friday.
"Good morning, Miranda!
I hear your concerns, and I'm glad you agree that we share a goal of public transparency.
This is an invite-only facilitated discussion between community partners, not a meeting where City business is being conducted. Our role is only as organisers/hosts, as per Council direction.
I've cc'd our facilitator, Joel Pennington, who will be leading this discussion.
For the City's part, we will be providing two formal opportunities for media access:
- A media availability at on July 28 at 9 p.m. immediately following the discussion
- A report to council following up on the discussion (date TBD, please refer to the Council agendas as they are published)
As one of our River District businesses, you will also have been invited as a business community member.
Our invitation to media partners (including those outside of the River District) is to ensure fairness and transparency while respecting the participants and facilitator's desire for all attendees to participate in a fulsome discussion.
If you do not feel that you are able to attend, we fully understand and appreciate your position and will continue to ensure access through the opportunities listed above.
You are welcome to send questions to Tim, who can provide an official response and/or quotes. But in my capacity as the staff lead I am happy to assist with providing support to ensure that all our invited participants feel welcomed and comfortable participating in this opportunity for greater collaboration between our community partners.
To honour "any requests for confidentiality"? In a democracy, it is certainly a strange position to invite the media, but then not allow them to report. I'm sure there are some limited conditions where this might be necessary, to protect someone's identity in the community. But as a blanket statement, it certainly makes me question: What is the city hiding? I'm curious why journalists were invited in the first place?
What will your first question be?
We’re really just interested in documenting the concerns of business owners, as that was the original purpose of the meeting. We invite attendees to share their experiences with us by emailing owensoundcurrenteditor@gmail.com. We will make those public record and part of our community’s archive.
As a long time subscriber and supporter of transparency and local journalism, here's my complete reply to your email on Friday.
"Good morning, Miranda!
I hear your concerns, and I'm glad you agree that we share a goal of public transparency.
This is an invite-only facilitated discussion between community partners, not a meeting where City business is being conducted. Our role is only as organisers/hosts, as per Council direction.
I've cc'd our facilitator, Joel Pennington, who will be leading this discussion.
For the City's part, we will be providing two formal opportunities for media access:
- A media availability at on July 28 at 9 p.m. immediately following the discussion
- A report to council following up on the discussion (date TBD, please refer to the Council agendas as they are published)
As one of our River District businesses, you will also have been invited as a business community member.
Our invitation to media partners (including those outside of the River District) is to ensure fairness and transparency while respecting the participants and facilitator's desire for all attendees to participate in a fulsome discussion.
If you do not feel that you are able to attend, we fully understand and appreciate your position and will continue to ensure access through the opportunities listed above.
You are welcome to send questions to Tim, who can provide an official response and/or quotes. But in my capacity as the staff lead I am happy to assist with providing support to ensure that all our invited participants feel welcomed and comfortable participating in this opportunity for greater collaboration between our community partners.
Thank you,
Rebecca
Rebecca Ellerdiem (she/her)
Community & Business Development Advisor
City Manager’s Office"
Was there a factual inaccuracy you wanted to see corrected, Rebecca Diem / Ellerdiem?
To honour "any requests for confidentiality"? In a democracy, it is certainly a strange position to invite the media, but then not allow them to report. I'm sure there are some limited conditions where this might be necessary, to protect someone's identity in the community. But as a blanket statement, it certainly makes me question: What is the city hiding? I'm curious why journalists were invited in the first place?