Upcoming Strategic Planning Sessions for Future Owen Sound – Vision 2050

The Inclusive and Creative Community Engagement Workshops for municipal and community stakeholders have been completed. Now, the City is pleased to announce the upcoming Future Owen Sound — Vision 2050 strategic planning sessions. These sessions will be held at various times from November 8th to November 10th at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre (Shore Room 2), 1900 3rd Avenue East in Owen Sound.

All community stakeholders, such as young families, business owners, not-for-profit workers, elders and students, are invited to register for and attend the strategic planning sessions. Also, City of Owen Sound Council and staff members will be participating.  Broad participation from people of all identities is strongly encouraged and will create a respectful space for varied perspectives. The purpose of the Future Owen Sound — Vision 2050 strategic planning sessions is to identify immediate, mid-term and long-term actions for collectively creating a thriving city. In addition to Jay Pitter Placemaking, each session will be co-facilitated by an Owen Sound community stakeholder

Each session will address a priority established through the inclusive and comprehensive strategic planning survey process. The priorities, dates and times are as follows:

Session #1
Priority: Fostering Mutually Beneficial and Respectful Relationships 
Definition: Establishing, reconciling and continually nurturing relationships that result in mutual benefit, trust and shared understanding.
Friday, November 8, 2024 — 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Session #2
Priority: Green and Resilient City
Definition: Strengthening the city’s resiliency (both physical and community infrastructure) in terms of mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Also, leveraging natural resources and infrastructure to support healthy lifestyles.
Saturday, November 9, 2024 — 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Session #3
Priority: Safe City
Definition: Contributing to inclusivity, diversity and accessibility in our community and participating in initiatives focused on a range of long-term, systemic safety solutions that respond to current and future residents.
Saturday, November 9, 2024 — 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Session #4
Priority: Prosperous City
Definition: Supporting initiatives that increase competitive economic advantages for current and new businesses and their employees. Also, addressing other aspects of prosperity such as contributing to a good quality of life for all and recognizing the experience of elders, the possibility of young people and collective community knowledge as precious local resources.
Saturday, November 9, 2024 — 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Session #5
Priority: Celebrating and Embracing Culture
Definition: Uplifting all aspects of the city’s local culture, including Indigenous Peoples’ cultural histories and practices, the cultural histories and practices of all residents, and formal institutional arts and cultural expressions. Also, contribute to creating an inclusive, welcoming and prosperous culture that creates the conditions for harmonious demographic and economic growth.
Saturday, November 9, 2024 — 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Session #6
Priority: A City That Moves
Definition: Facilitating sustainable transportation options and creating community connectivity.
Sunday, November 10, 2024 — 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Session #7
Priority: City Building
Definition: Enhancing urban development, planning and placemaking processes to expedite the creation of places and spaces that contribute to complete communities for existing residents, future residents and tourists.
Sunday, November 10, 2024 — 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Again, all sessions will take place at Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre (Shore Room 2), 1900 3rd Avenue East in Owen Sound.  Further information about local community co-facilitators will follow.

Please register for the event (up to three sessions) at OwenSound.ca/Vision2050Sessions or visit the project website here.

For more information, please contact Michelle Palmer, Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Operational Effectiveness, at 519-376-4440 ext. 1246 or email mpalmer@owensound.ca

Quick Facts:

• The inclusive and comprehensive strategic planning survey process that took place earlier this year gathered over 1000 survey respondents, with 33% of survey respondents identified as being individuals from an equity-deserving group.

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