by Anne Finlay-Stewart
The City of Owen Sound is currently operating with less than a full roster of its key players. How this might affect our game remains to be seen.
The City, like all Ontario municipalities, is a "creature" of the province. Our governing documents were passed in the Legislature at Queen's Park - the Ontario Municipal Act, Planning Act, Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, etcetera. These are the rules by which we play, and the City Clerk is, in some respects, the linesman. In addition to many other detail-oriented tasks she, or he, is responsible for knowing the rulebook intimately and letting the players – both staff and elected officials – know if they are close toste pping out of bounds and risking penalties.
Our own highly-qualified City Clerk began an extended leave last fall after completing a year-long process culminating in an efficiently-run municipal election. Her position is held for her return. The Deputy Clerk became Acting City Clerk, but she too will be going on leave soon to welcome a new baby. The posting for that maternity leave is now closed to applications and according to Mayor Ian Boddy, the successful candidate will be assuming Acting City Clerk responsibilities.
The City Manager , known in some jurisdictions as the Chief Administrative Officer, (CAO) is responsible for "providing leadership and direction to the City administration while ensuring that the policies of City Council are effectively implemented." The City Manager is appointed by the Council itself, and is the only employee directly accountable to them. Every other manager, director and department, from the Fire Department to the Clerk, reports to the City Manager.
Overnight on Friday May 2nd, 2015 two sheds were broken into in Owen Sound. One was in the area of the 1200 block of 4th Avenue East, the locked shed was force opened and three mountain bikes were stolen. The value of the stolen bikes is estimated to be $6,500. Taken was a Rocky Mountain ETSX30, brown in colour, a Rocky Mountain Slayer SXC30 black in colour and a Schwinn MOAB lime green in colour. The other shed which as well was forced open was in the 1000 block of 4th Avenue East. Taken was several chainsaws, a compressor, angle grinder and an impact wrench.
In 1986, the United Church of Canada made an apology to the aboriginal peoples of this land. The moderator at the time said in part, "We confused western ways and culture with the depth and breadth and length and height of the gospel of Christ....We tried to make to make you like us and in so doing we helped to destroy the vision that made you what you were...We ask you to forgive us and to walk together with us in the Spirit of Christ so that our peoples may be blessed and God's creation healed."
The apology was received by a representative group of First Nations people. Two years later when the church's general council met again, an elder said that the apology was acknowledged but not accepted. She said that aboriginal people within the church "hope and pray that the apology is not symbolic but that these are the words of action and sincerity...."
Ottawa, ON – Larry Miller, MP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, is concerned that many families in Bruce and Grey Counties will miss out on receiving benefits that they are entitled to simply by not applying for the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) before Friday, May 1st, 2015.
by Kelly Babcock, Hub staff
Thursday, April 30th at 5:30, join The Wild Lands Film Festival and Collective as it wraps up it's winter film series with Daniel Schmidt's 'Inner Worlds Outer worlds', An external reflection of a his own adventure in meditation at the Frog Ponds Café
Friday May 1st at 6:00PM, check out Words Made Fresh at the River Café for Fresh First Friday. The written word will be celebrated in prose, poetry, and song with various writers reading poetry and prose from published works and works in progress and singer/songwriters performing original material. Kelly Babcock will be the master of ceremonies.
Friday May 1st at 6:00PM join Zoltan Stewart at the Bleeding Carrot as he hosts "FRESH 1st FRIDAY @ The Bleeding Carrot; An Open Mic Extravaganza!" Don't miss your opportunity to hear local performance art at its best.
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