Nov 8: Community Open House Draws a Crowd
Plus: Local news including coverage of the most recent Tom Thomson Art Gallery Advisory Committee meeting, which shows deep divisions over gallery fundings
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Well, readers, it seems this editor has a bit of crow 🐦 to eat this morning. I had my doubts about the City of Owen Sound’s Community Open House format, but am happy to be proven wrong on this one.
It was more informal mixer than trade fair, and better attended than I’d anticipated. Over 25 staff and most of City Council were on hand in the Shore Rooms at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre last night sharing information, answering questions, and engaging with community members.
Several community organizations participated, as well, including Grey County Housing, CMHA Grey Bruce, the United Way, and the YMCA’s Settlement & Language Programs, Youth & Justice Programs, and Employment Programs. Dozens of community members came and went in the hour or so I stayed.
City staff at booths around the room answered questions and kept track of the issues community members want to know about. I asked Michelle Palmer, the City’s Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Operational Effectiveness, what message she had for community members who couldn’t attend the Open House.
Palmer said she encourages community members to report concerns about city services or by-laws anytime on the Living Here > Report a Concern page on the City’s website. That allows staff to direct concerns to the most appropriate person and track issues to ensure they’re followed up on.
She and her team also recommend that residents subscribe to receive City news directly, which you can do on this page. It’s a good idea to sign up for these emails, as social media sites continue to toy with their algorithms and prioritize what gets clicks over what you actually need to know.
Overall, the event appeared to be a success, and I find myself hoping this opportunity to meet, mingle, and learn presents itself more often. I’ll take this crow with a slice of humble pie and a nice glass of Chianti, thank you very much.
The City’s Community Open House gets an A for opening the door a crack to accessible and transparent communication. Here’s hoping that it won’t be the last of its kind and that we see more opportunities for face-to-face engagement in the future.
Events like these remind us that local government can be approachable, and the solid turnout shows there’s genuine interest from residents in learning more about city services, voicing concerns, and staying informed.
So, well done, Owen Sound—consider me pleasantly surprised.
Public Notice
The City of Owen Sound’s strategic planning sessions for its “Vision 2050” project are coming up on Nov 8-10. Community members can sign up to attend 3 sessions. Learn more here.
Full subscribers - keep reading for our original + curated local news updates and events, including:
Debate over taxpayer support for the TOM heats up at Gallery Advisory Committee meeting
Hanover awaits water test results expected this Friday
Key decisions from Bruce County Council’s November 7 meeting
Grey-Bruce home sales climb for a second month in October
Rockwood Terrace marks 40 years of service
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