One-Sentence Summary

Council heard no Public Forum submissions during that session, reviewed a request from Al Nightingale regarding planting an oak tree at Julie MacArthur Regional Recreation Centre honoring John Douglas Seaman, and addressed approval of adding a turf floor partnership proposal for Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre to the five-year capital plan.

Whole Meeting Summary

Council convened the Public Forum session, yet no audience members presented items or submitted written requests for consideration during this agenda period without any recorded outcomes. The City Manager presented Report CM-25-037 from Parks and Open Space regarding Working Group CM-25-037, which recommended ratifying a proposal to rename Ryerson Park and initiating the naming process by February 26, 2026. The Community Services Committee reviewed Report CS-25-119 from the Facilities Booking Coordinator regarding a proposed installation of the initial sports equipment sanitizer vending unit situated between two existing units within the front lobby at the Julie MacArthur Rec Centre. Council considered a request from Al Nightingale on behalf of the Better Pool Committee to plant an oak tree at the Julie MacArthur Regional Recreation Centre honoring John Douglas Seaman, where the proposal includes installing a plaque and concrete base funded by the requester with City staff handling installation outside the standard commemorative tree program. The Community Services Committee directed staff to transfer year-end event surplus into the Events Reserve, allocate funds for relocating a lifeboat at the Marine and Rail Museum, purchase supplies, and confirmed virtual and physical participation in the 2025 End of Year Events Update. Council considered staff report CS-25-125 regarding concession operation options at the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre involving a potential joint agreement with YWCA that requires the City to maintain responsibility for ensuring healthy food choices and preventing grease-laden vapours. The committee supported adding a turf floor partnership proposal for Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre to its five-year capital plan, authorizing staff to execute an agreement where Lacrosse acquires and gifts the surface while retaining advertising rights.

Most Newsworthy Items

  • Committee Directs Staff to Move Events Surplus: The Community Services Committee recommends moving the year-end event surplus into the Events Reserve and allocating funds for relocating a lifeboat at the Marine and Rail Museum and purchasing supplies.
  • Virtual Attendance Confirmed for 2025 End of Year Events Update: The Events and Activation Coordinator reported that attendees were participating in the meeting both virtually and from physical locations at the horseshoe table.
  • The City Manager reported on Working Group CM-25-037 which recommended ratifying a: The City Manager reported on Working Group CM-25-037, which recommended ratifying a proposal to rename Ryerson Park and initiating the naming process by February 26, 2026.
  • Council opened a public forum session but found no audience members: Council opened a public forum session but found no audience members to present items and received no written submissions.

Meeting Recap

6 PUBLIC FORUM

Council opened a public forum session but found no audience members to present items and received no written submissions.

8.a.1 Report CM-25-037 from the City Manager Re Ryerson Park Renaming

Speaker 02 reported on Working Group CM-25-037, which recommended ratifying a proposal to rename Ryerson Park and initiating the naming process by February 26, 2026.

8.c.1 Report CS-25-119 from the Facilities Booking Coordinator Re Sports Equipment Sanitizer

The Community Services Committee considered a proposal to install the first sports equipment sanitizer vending unit at the Julie MacArthur Rec Centre, located between two existing machines in the front lobby.

8.a.2 Report CS-25-124 from the Director of Community Services Re Request for

Council considered a request from Al Nightingale on behalf of the Better Pool Committee to plant an oak tree at the Julie MacArthur Regional Recreation Centre honoring John Douglas Seaman. The proposal includes installing a plaque and concrete base funded by the requester, with City staff handling installation outside the standard commemorative tree program.

8.b.1 Report CS-25-129 from the Events and Activation Coordinator Re 2025 End

The Community Services Committee directed staff to transfer the year-end event surplus into the Events Reserve, allocate funds for relocating a lifeboat at the Marine and Rail Museum, purchase supplies, and confirmed that attendees participated in the 2025 End of Year Events Update both virtually and from physical locations.

8.c.2 Report CS-25-125 from the Director of Community Services Re Options Regarding

Council considered options for operating concessions at the Julie MacArthur Regional Recreation Centre under a joint agreement with YWCA where the City holds responsibility and must ensure healthy food choices without grease-laden vapours.

8.c.3 Report CS-25-126 from the Director of Community Services Re Proposal for

Council approved adding a turf floor partnership proposal for Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre to its five-year capital plan, authorizing staff to execute an agreement where Lacrosse acquires and gifts the surface while retaining advertising rights.

Links

Read full transcript: https://helpos.ca/transcripts/owen-sound/committee-community-services/2025-12-17

Agenda page: https://helpos.ca/agendas/owen-sound/committee-community-services/2025-12-17

Official meeting page: https://pub-owensound.escribemeetings.com/MeetingsCalendarView.aspx/Meeting?Id=8a399cec-75c9-4ffd-b3d6-f5b8b8108248

Original video: https://video.isilive.ca/owensound/New Encoder_CS_2025-12-17-05-29.mp4