Community locations, including parks, chosen for public to have their say

Residents who checked out the list of public information centres to talk about the town’s strategic plan might have found the locations interesting.

The pavilion beside the splash pad in the Virgil Sports Park Monday afternoon was one.

Sparky’s Park in St. Davids is another.

This year’s strategic planning process includes intentional outreach to all residents and community members, says Victoria Steele of the town’s strategy & government relations office.

The town is conducting a survey online, a virtual public information session, and has presented five opportunities for in-person engagement, she adds.

 The in-person centres are "strategically positioned throughout the community, one in every community, and at locations where people gather and where public access is easy and accessible,” Steele explains.

At these locations, staff can connect with those visiting the area specifically for the information centre, as well as engage with those passing by and stopping to ask questions about the process, she says. “This engagement strategy has proven very beneficial so far.”

Long-time resident Ingrid Regier was at the Virgil Sports Park Monday, where an information centre was set up in the pavilion by the splash pad.

She stopped by, she said, “because it gave me an opportunity to zero in what was important to me. I'm hoping that a lot of people come, so after we can't say 'I didn't know about that.’ Did you show up? Did you take what you were offered, to go and take a look at this, and to talk to these people who are right here? If you didn't go, you can't complain.”

She said she was happy to see the town travelling to different areas out in the community.

“You can get more personal here because you have all these people here to ask questions directly. I think it's great. Kudos to council.”

Regier says she’s aware of the options for public input, including the ability to speak at council, and has done that through many councils. “For them to come out to us like this is a big bonus. Hopefully they will pay attention to what we really need when they put the plan together, what we are concerned about. For me, it's agriculture, big-time, transportation, affordability and housing. I really hope that those sitting behind a desk in Toronto do not underestimate that we are a lovely town, and they don't have to exploit every green space here.”

Steele said Monday she is happy with the turnout to the information centres, and that people are spending time going through the material presented. “The quality of discussion with each person has been very insightful.”

The information being presented summarizes the vision or mission options that council has put forth for the next four years, including what the future looks like and what the town’s purpose is in the community, explained Steele. The information centres are looking for input on priorities. In addition to more attention to heritage, she said, she’s hearing “we need arts and culture to come to the surface more, and the environment. Those are the three that are really standing out so far. They are all in there, but we need to make sure that they are surfacing to the top and made a priority.”

Staff was looking forward to the remainder of the public engagement opportunities Tuesday, she said.

For those who prefer to engage online or are only available in the evening, there is a virtual public information centre Tuesday, May 30, at 6:30 p.m.. Those wishing to attend are asked to email [email protected] for the meeting link. 

Tuesday, May 28 sessions are from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the food court in the Outlet Mall, and from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Court House steps.

With files from Mike Balsom