Thurs Aug 28 – Local News, Weekend Events + Editorial on Community Safety Next Steps

Local news updates from Grey Roots Museum, South Bruce OPP, Meaford Council, Grey County, M'Wikwedong, Sydenham Sportsmen and more

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Anglers fish off the west harbour wall during the Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular 2025. Photo credit: Robert Mackey

EDITORIAL

As summer winds down, our attention shifts… kids are headed back to school, cooler weather is on the horizon, and city council will soon be returning from its summer break. Council will have plenty on its plate when it resumes, but residents shouldn’t have to wait months for meaningful improvements to daily life in Owen Sound.

The downtown safety meeting hosted by the city just before the break showed that people here care and want to be part of positive change. Thoughtful suggestions were shared, and the willingness to help was evident.

There are steps council could take right now, based on what we already see and know, that would immediately improve conditions for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.

Reopen and maintain public washrooms.

These facilities should never have been shuttered, nor should private businesses be expected to shoulder the responsibility of sanitation and personal hygiene for the general public.

Yes, washrooms require monitoring and cleaning — but that’s the city’s responsibility. Ensuring that people have access to a clean, safe place to relieve themselves is not optional, and we’ve seen what happens without them. Choosing not to provide public washrooms has failed. Learn, fix it, and move on.

Coordinate a meaningful response to homelessness.

Notice I didn’t say “Fix homelessness right now.” I don’t think anyone expects the City to snap its fingers and end homelessness instantly. But there’s still a lot of runway between where we are now and a true solution.

So convene a task force. There’s a specific issue to tackle here. Meet regularly, establish goals, and bring the right people and agencies to the table. Have the difficult conversations about responsibilities, gaps, and accountability.

Do it transparently, and report openly to the public. Give residents real reasons to believe we’re moving in the right direction. Progress is not measured in hours spent in meetings or pages of policy cited.

The City doesn’t have to solve every problem, but they have a responsibility to coordinate, collaborate, and lead where they want to see improvements — then clear the red tape and get out of the way so those best positioned to solve the problem can do so.

Invest in community safety supports.

We know there are major issues with provincial and federal justice systems. It isn’t fair to local police that they seem to catch and release the same people over and over again. We cannot change that.

So how can the City, and all of us, do better at supporting them?

The City likes to point out at budget time how much policing costs. The police service’s budget has risen by $3.9 million since 2020, but it’s become clear that no one in Owen Sound is calling for fewer officers or reduced service. In my view, much of that budget pressure stems directly from our lack of housing, inadequate addiction supports, and the crime that comes with people trying to survive in an environment of desperation.

So if we cannot cut the police budget because they’re busier than ever, then how are we going to address some of the root causes of why they’re so busy?

It’s not enough to complain that the deterioration of safety in our community is “just perception” without combating that perception, and you don’t do that by dismissing or talking over concerns. You address concern and mistrust by taking decisive action, sharing information and data openly, publishing benchmarks and reporting on problems and progress, and taking accountability.

In public service, it’s not enough to say, “We’re doing the work, trust us.”

Open, transparent communication about plans — then following through with accountability — is what builds trust.

And the City of Owen Sound has its work cut out for it. The good news is that meaningful progress from here doesn’t require more studies, staff reports, engagement consultations, or deferrals. We all know what the issues are.

It’s time to make some real, substantive decisions, and demonstrate the courage to execute them.

~ Miranda Miller, Editor

Keep reading for local news updates, including Owen Sound Adult Soccer results, a massive fraud loss in South Bruce, a Meaford councilor’s farewell, the latest fishing derby results, and a lot more.

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