Mon July 28 - Local News, Views & Events
Plus: A look ahead at what participants can expect at the City's downtown safety meeting this evening
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EDITORIAL
Tonight, the City of Owen Sound will host a closed-door meeting titled “A Community Stakeholder Discussion to Foster a Vibrant River District.”
The event was first initiated three months ago, following an April 23 motion by the Owen Sound Police Services Board (OSPSB), which called for a meeting between the City, police, and downtown business owners to address “current business conditions” — specifically concerns related to open drug use and safety in the downtown core.
What began as a request for a focused conversation with business owners has been reframed into a broader, invitation-only visioning session involving more than 100 participants from various sectors.
The two-hour session will follow a tightly structured format, with minimal time allocated for open discussion. Exercises include movement-based “four corners” activities, where participants indicate their agreement or disagreement with statements, a series of timed one-on-one conversations, and small-group breakout discussions.
Twenty minutes of the evening is scheduled for large-group discussion, with just 5 minutes reserved for participant Q&A.
Members of the media have been assigned designated spokespersons to interview after the meeting concludes at 9:00 p.m.
The Owen Sound Current has opted not to attend this evening. Media were asked to participate not as journalists but “stakeholders” and to agree to honour any requests for confidentiality preemptively — a condition incompatible with independent reporting and transparency.
The City has also confirmed that the meeting will not be recorded, and no public transcript will be released.
If you’re attending, we encourage you to help ensure transparency.
Let the community know how the conversation was handled, what was discussed, your concerns, and whether you feel the issues raised are being effectively addressed. Open dialogue matters, and so does the public record of those discussions.
📬 Send a Letter to the Editor: owensoundcurrenteditor@gmail.com
Please include your full name and the community in which you reside.
As tonight’s meeting unfolds, the next steps will be critical. The City and its stakeholders have already invested significant time and resources into consultations and conversations about the River District. It’s time to ensure those discussions lead to meaningful action.
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