Tues Apr 16: City Council & The Yeah Yeah Gang

Plus: $200,000 in grant funding awarded to local agencies and community groups

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Mayor Ian Boddy during Public Question Period at Owen Sound City Council’s regular meeting on April 15, 2024.

Last night, Council heard a deputation from a Collingwood-based group called The Southern Georgian Bay Jewish Community. Founder Rashell Feldman asked the City of Owen Sound “for your support in agreeing to accept and adopt the IHRA's definition of antisemitism because this is a human rights issue.”

You can read the full transcript of Feldman’s deputation – and the Mayor’s response – below:

Three residents – including a Chatsworth resident who is an Israeli citizen and grandson of a Holocaust survivor, and two members of the group Ceasefire Grey Bruce – rose to counter the ask and speak more broadly about the Gaza conflict during Public Question Period.

While Mayor Ian Boddy thanked Feldman for her presentation, promising Council “will absolutely consider it as we move forward with policies and things,” he told the first Public Question Period speaker who spoke to the same issue:

“There is no motion before Council to make a decision whatsoever. I would encourage you and the community to get together and come up with a resolution that seems to be appropriate.

There seems to be a difference. We’re here listening to everyone and hearing different opinions but we don’t have a motion before us on the floor.

It would be something that we’d potentially consider at some point, but there’s clearly a division in the Jewish community and we would like to see you put it together and tell us. We can’t make that decision. So, thank you.”

And so, readers, I’m left wondering, again… where is the opportunity for public input and engagement on what is clearly an important issue to people in our community, if not in Public Question Period?

The Mayor, who speaks for all of Council, seemed receptive to the deputation until an opposing opinion was presented.

Do community members need to come to a consensus on issues before we reach out to those we elect to help us come to a consensus on issues?

As the Mayor said, there’s no motion on the table.

There’s no public meeting for this.

There are no opportunities on the calendar for members of the public to engage their elected representatives in conversation since the Town Halls promised in January have been cancelled in favour of a City Hall trade show.

If not now… when? If not in council chambers during open session… where?

Healthy communities have open conversations about things that matter. What is the mechanism by which that open conversation takes place between Owen Sound constituents and the people elected to represent them?

I don’t have that answer. But we do welcome you to share your perspective and help community members better understand the issues – this, and all things that matter – by submitting letters to owensoundcurrenteditor@gmail.com.

Now grab a coffee and stay with me for a much more uplifting story.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the depth and diversity of talent here in Grey and Bruce.

Case in point: The Yeah Yeah Gang, a local comedy short that landed in my inbox late yesterday morning.

As Steven Morel, the film’s co-creator, writes of his collaborator and fellow film star, Joschi Shea was born to parents who are both artists. It’s no surprise he came into the world with his own strong desire to create.

However, since he has physical limitations because of his cerebral palsy, he co-creates with collaborators who work with him to bring his creative impulses to life.

Joschi and Steven, his caregiver, worked together to produce this gem of a local film in the “Buddy Comedy” style for this year’s Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. You can watch the video and hear more from Steven about how it came together here:

Full subscribers, there’s a lot more for you below, including…

• A great write-up on the winners of this year’s City of Owen Sound Arts, Culture, and Volunteer Awards

• Which community groups and agencies have been awarded a share of the United Way’s $200,000 in grant funding for 2024

• Photos and a description of a vehicle stolen from a Highway 21 residence early Sunday

• An update from Grey County on summer roadworks projects, with a map detailing jobs to be done

~ Miranda

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