Future Owen Sound - Vision 2050 Needs Community Stakeholders to Have Their Say

Over the past few years, the municipal landscape has changed dramatically in terms of both challenges and opportunities. Future Owen Sound—Vision 2050 is responding to this new reality.  Vision 2050 will create the roadmap for where the City wants to be, and every four years, a Term of Council set of priorities will be developed that are focused on delivering that Vision. The new vision will build on the important work that informed the previous Strategic Plan Refresh. This approach will leverage local knowledge and provide opportunities for learning and building new skills together while also including a particularly wide range of people and perspectives in the Vision.

The City of Owen Sound is working closely with Jay Pitter Placemaking on the Vision 2050 project. Jay Pitter Placemaking is renowned for its innovative approach to amplifying community stakeholders’ involvement and capturing unique perspectives. This will allow the City to co-create a community vision and deepen engagement centred on local knowledge. 

The first initiative being undertaken in the Future Owen Sound – Vision 2050 project is the Vision 2050 survey.  The survey process is extraordinarily accessible, open now until July 12, 2024, online and on paper.  To view the project page and participate online, contributors can visit OurCity.OwenSound.ca.  Additionally, community stakeholders can complete paper copies of the survey, available soon at one of four Vision 2050 Survey Stations located at City Hall, North Grey Union Public Library, the Bayshore Community Centre, and the Julie McArthur Regional Rec Centre (YMCA).  For further accessibility, a mobile Vision 2050 Survey Station will also be at some upcoming community events.  Those who choose to participate have a chance to win one of three $50 Walmart gift cards.

In keeping with this project's collaborative spirit, if you belong to a group or club (such as a youth group, social service organization, local business association, etc.) that could support the survey's distribution to capture as many community stakeholder voices as possible, please get in touch with communications@owensound.ca.

To learn more about the Future Owen Sound – Vision 2050 project, visit the OurCity webpage or contact Michelle Palmer, Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Operational Effectiveness, at 519-376-4440 ext. 1246 or email mpalmer@owensound.ca

Quotes:

"It is a privilege to be working alongside municipal leaders, institutions on the frontlines of community care and transformation, and community members invested in the future of their beautiful city. By centring local knowledge, deepening community engagement, building stakeholder capacity, and leveraging proven precedents, we hope to add tremendous value to the Future Owen Sound-Vision 2050 initiative.”

-      Jay Pitter, Jay Pitter Placemaking

“This survey will provide important groundwork as we work to create a future vision and roadmap for Owen Sound.  Everyone’s lived experience is important.  We want to hear from all community stakeholders, including the business community, home businesses, students and seniors, service providers and social service hubs.  Let’s create our City’s future together.”

-      Mayor Ian Boddy

-30-