Councillor McCann Meeting Report (November 5, 2024)

Downtown Quality of Experience Team First Meeting
On Thursday afternoon, 2:00, October 24, 2024 I attended the inaugural meeting of the Downtown Quality of Experience Team. I’m very pleased to be a part of this committee.  Following introductions, we had an overview of the team goals and objectives.  They include identifing underlying issues and recommend solutions, promote and improve the safety and security of the downtown area, identify and discuss best practices to resolve downtown issues that decrease the quality of the experience, work collaboratively as a team to implement identified solutions, educate team members and the public on organizational mandates and initiatives including communication of a consistent message to the public, research, identify and implement new initiatives for positive action. A draft of the New Official Plan was introduced to the group and highlighted were three areas of particular concern; 1) Retail Hierarchy, 2) Window Coverage and 3) Height Minimums. There was also discussion on services including banks, alcohol and bars relocating from the downtown area and having a dedicated service area or hub for Children’s Aid, DSSAB, Harvest Share, the Warming Centre and other social services. Also covered were downtown business issues including vandalism, graffiti, cigarettes, garbage, damages to stores, and harassment, installation of 24-hour video surveillance cameras, clearing overgrown foliage areas within the town and putting up more lights. The ideas of mentorship programs and tiny homes were brought up. It was considered that adding bike racks to the downtown areas may help in bringing people into the area. The OPP gave a brief summary of the Cam-Safe Program and how it works. Talk of having a Purposeful Place, Something To Do, Someone To Love and sharing spaces, for example for tourists, business owners and mental health. There is also the desire to identify strengths in our community and support from OPP and from nurse practitioners. Drug reality and awareness of these matters was discussed as problems that are not going away anytime soon. We look forward to our next meeting coming up this month. limited and lacking resources.


West Parry Sound District Museum Monthly Board Meeting
On Thursday evening, October 24, 2024 I attended the West Parry Sound District Monthly Board Meeting via ZOOM. Financial reports were reviewed and accepted. There was to have been a fund raiser curling bonspiel but has been postponed for now. A total of 12 teams were needed and the number fell short. All those who paid entrance fees to the bonspiel are receiving refunds. The Museum received an NOHFC grant to hire someone for early January and it received a Trillium Grant to organize the research library.  There is a Fire Fighting exhibit underway. The McMichael Exhibition at the Museum will be opening soon with a grand opening in the works and to be announced. This display is here through to April. It's titled, "People of the Watershed: Photographs by John Macfie". The Museum only had room for a portion of the collection but you can see and learn from the numerous pictures on display, and which were taken by John Macfie. John was a settler trapline manager who worked in Northern Ontario in the 1950s and 1960s and travelled with a camera and recording life in several Indigenous communities. The Museum Board also approved all suggested computer upgrades and the purchase of a large format printer.