Letter: Working Together for Safety, Belonging, and Inclusion in Owen Sound
Owen Sound Councillor Carol Merton calls for practical, collaborative steps to create a safer, more inclusive, and vibrant downtown, emphasizing trust, compassion, and community engagement.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
As a participant reflecting on the recent community engagement session relating to the safety and vibrancy of downtown Owen Sound, I heard a variety of perspectives. I appreciated the opportunity to both share and learn from the attendees, and based on this, would like to offer a few comments on how we might move toward a vibrant and inclusive downtown.
We might facilitate a focused conversation with those who are unhoused, precariously housed and/or struggling with addictions and mental illness.
After completing production of a Rogers TV special Series, “WE ALL BELONG: Stories of Lived Experience” and interviewing over a dozen participants with lived experience, a key learning for me was that many on our streets are there because they have a deep need for belonging, community, and being included.
These needs we all share in common. We all seek to be in community and sharing space “in the commons.”
We can build civic pride through communication. As one of the speakers said, “Let’s move to collective hope, not collective hate.” Individually and collectively, we are our best ambassadors. Can we affirm, encourage and support positive messaging and harmonize solutions for structural, system and environmental challenges?
This can lead to celebrating and communicating the wins- often! People need to see change to be part of the change. Steps may be small or big, but all in the direction moving forward.
Let’s focus on practical community-based approaches that promote and enable community health, well-being, perceptions of safety, downtown vibrancy and social inclusion.
Acknowledge that change happens at the speed of trust. Many partners are required to build trust and grow hope. Listening intentionally also involves demonstrating through actions, tangible and visible changes, that will benefit all.
Some initial goals might include:
A collaborative approach to fund and install public washrooms downtown. Integrate the maintenance with social services programs to augment those who are living in legislated poverty. Similar projects have been implemented in other cities. What might work for us?
Offer more syringe drop boxes downtown with training and oversight provided by Public Health and pharmacies or other convenient locations.
Place more garbage bins and provide more frequent pick-ups across the downtown area. A clean downtown is an inviting downtown.
Add functional and comfortable street furniture for all to use. Our aging population and those using mobility devices would benefit as well.
Provide tours of our social service provider locations that provide care for those vulnerable and at-risk populations for all Council members and community influencers to build awareness and relationships.
In addition, proceed with RentSafe initiatives that ensure appropriate and healthy rental living conditions in the downtown area and act on the motion made and carried at the Corporate Services Committee of the City of Owen Sound:
CR-241114-002 Moved by Vice Chair Merton
"THAT in consideration of the deputation provided on November 14, 2024 from United Way of Bruce Grey respecting RentSafe Owen Sound Collaborative, the Corporate Services Committee recommends that City Council direct staff to bring forward a report respecting the three recommendations presented, including but not limited to:
1. Collection of data on habitability issues in rental housing;
2. Including language for mould repairs in applicable by-laws; and
3. Supports for landlords to maintain habitability of rental units and facilitating effective tenant-landlord interaction as a strategy in retaining and improving the existing rental housing stock in Owen Sound.”
Finally, consider a high-level view of a framework for collaboration. Just as this recent meeting brought together varying perspectives and unlikely actors to have a conversation, continue to search for many perspectives, broader viewpoints and solution-finding opportunities.
Our differences have the potential to make us stronger and move towards the same goal- a kind, compassionate, inclusive and vibrant community!
Carol Merton
City Councillor
Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of The Owen Sound Current and its editor or publisher.
Carol, many thanks for your letter. You are an admirable city councillor. The practical suggestions you give - like more public washrooms and benches for stopping to rest downtown - are long overdue. I also really hope the little pockets of nature we have there can be maintained and expanded. There is so much evidence to tell us how beneficial all these efforts bring - to everyone. Thanks again.
Thank you Carol for your thoughts on collaborative action to support change for our downtown Owen Sound Community. Many of us who live in downtown Owen Sound know that we have seen improvement in the last few years: two drug treatment centres, Grey County motel purchase to decrease homelessness, the SOS Wednesdays at the market to increase contact and support for people living on the street, the programs of United Way and ongoing police and paramedic services to the hardest to serve in our city. Statistics indicate that crime is down and the death from drug overdose has decreased.
Businesses, social services and cultural organizations as well as the City, County and Provincial governments working together with us as citizens will solidify collaborative action.
Thank you for pointing us toward new possibilities in this article.