Dear Mayor Boddy and City Councillors,

Please accept this letter as an introduction to my deputation at your upcoming meeting on September 12, 2022 regarding the proposed development of the former RCA property.

I have lived or worked in the city of Owen Sound for the last 22 years. In my former role as Associate Dean of Georgian College, Owen Sound Campus,

I enjoyed many opportunities to work collaboratively with the City on various projects. I have a particular interest in housing as I was instrumental in bringing student residence to Owen Sound, a project that I am very proud of. In addition, I worked closely and successfully with Bob Van Dolder on many student housing issues as they arose periodically.

Since retirement, my husband and I have been very involved with two important volunteer initiatives. They are as follows:

• Church run practical outreach program to dozens of people living in poverty and facing a multitude of mental health issues, housing challenges, and relationship struggles. We did this for 6 years.

• Chaired the Owen Sound Alliance Church Refugee Sponsorship Committee for 7 years- and still very active. To date we’ve resettled 19 Eritrean refugees to Owen Sound; all but one has stayed. We have completed the paperwork for another 11 whom we expect will arrive within the next two years.

I mention this because we have an enduring history of working with disadvantaged populations. We fully understand and agree that more housing is needed in Owen Sound for many groups but especially for marginalized populations.

This is not NIMBY opposition; it is based on a concern for the scale. I’m also motivated by a love for the city of Owen Sound.

Yours truly,
Donna Jansen