There were two public presentations and three written presentations at Thursday night’s virtual town hall.

Jemma Victor is with Equity and Inclusion North Bay.

She says the group was formed in the spring at an anti racism book club event.

Victor says the goals of the group are to promote an increased awareness in the community of the issues facing many due to social, economic and cultural discrimination.

“Sometimes it’s unintentional but sometimes it is intentional. There’s un-education about these things and this makes some white people uncomfortable but it’s 2020 and time for more open dialogues,” she says.

Victor says there’s a need to increase awareness of the many groups in our community facing some kind of discrimination.

“Indigenous people, women, racialized people, people with disabilities, people living in poverty, youth, seniors, immigrants and the LGBTQ+. The barriers they’re facing include access to health, employment and housing,”Victor says.

Also presenting last night was Marty Simard.

He says there need to be more outdoor skating activity in the winter.

He wants the oval expanded at Lee Park and ovals added behind the Omischl Sports Complex and Memorial Gardens.

“At this location the football field could be flooded and used as a large outdoor skating rink. Also, some of the large trails nearby could be flooded so people could skate around in a loop,” he says.

The three written presentations concerned budget items.

They detailed keeping the economic climate in mind during COVID-19 and needed infrastructure on Premier Road including resurfacing and a sidewalk.

(photo by station staff)

Filed under: anti racism, Equity and Inclusion North Bay, skating, town hall