One-Sentence Summary

Council heard no Public Forum submissions during an empty session, reviewed Director of Community Services’ recommendation to approve funding exceptions for planting an oak tree honoring John Douglas Seaman, and addressed the Chief Building Official’s report on eleven apartment projects including one community living development at Sound featuring affordable housing units.

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 from that specific item. Speaker 02 reported that the Ryerson Park Renaming Working Group recommends ratifying its decision to rename the park and directing staff to initiate the naming process by February 26, 2026, while advising Council to request a formal resolution initiating the policy-driven naming procedure. The Community Services Committee considered Report CS-25-119 from the Facilities Booking Coordinator regarding an opportunity to install the first sports equipment sanitizer vending unit at the Julie MacArthur Rec Centre within its front lobby. Council considered and approved an exceptional request from Al Nightingale to plant an oak tree at the Julie MacArthur Regional Recreation Centre honoring John Douglas Seaman, with funding provided by the requester and installation handled outside standard procedures due to specific staff recommendations. 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 maintaining healthy food choices while preventing grease-laden vapours under City responsibility. The committee supported adding the turf floor partnership proposal for Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre to its five-year capital plan, authorizing an agreement where Lacrosse acquires and gifts the surface while retaining advertising rights under Report CS-25-126 from the Director of Community Services. The Chief Building Official provided information regarding an update that highlighted eleven apartment building projects within the November 2025 Development Update document, which included a community living development at Sound with affordable housing units as part of a successful year for the departments.

Most Newsworthy Items

  • Community Services Committee Recommends Directing Staff to Move Year-end Event Surpluses: The Community Services Committee recommends directing staff to move year-end event surpluses into the Events Reserve, approving up to $5,000 for relocating a lifeboat at the Marine and Rail Museum, and allocating $3,500 for purchasing supplies. The 2025 season delivered 24 free live music concerts and five outdoor movie nights with cumulative attendance exceeding 8,500 people while activating public spaces like TD Harbour Nights and midweek series that drew more than 5,200 attendees overall. Specific events included Canada Day celebrations supported by a $16,000 federal grant, the Great Bruce Home and Lifestyle Show featuring 132 indoor exhibitors, and Hockey Fest which celebrated local culture through youth tournaments.
  • The Chief Building Official reported on a successful year for the Building: The Chief Building Official reported on a successful year for the Building and Planning Departments, highlighting eleven apartment building projects including one community living development at Sound featuring affordable housing units.
  • Council received correspondence from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing: Council received correspondence from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding changes to Provincial Bill 17 with no further commentary.
  • Speaker Addresses Council Members Who Are Participating in the Meeting Via Virtual: The speaker addresses Council members who are participating in the meeting via virtual means.

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 that the Ryerson Park Renaming Working Group recommends ratifying its decision to rename the park and directing staff to initiate the naming process by February 26, 2026. The group clarified that while community correspondence overwhelmingly supported renaming, their mandate was only to determine whether a name change is necessary rather than selecting the specific new title. Consequently, the working group advises Council to request a formal resolution initiating the policy-driven naming procedure and directs staff to prioritize names with locational references.

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, filling a vacant spot between 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. Council approved the recommendation for this specific exception based on Mr. Siemens’ leadership contributions.

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

11.b Memorandum from the Chief Building Official Re Development Update

The Speaker 03 reported on a successful year for the Building and Planning Departments, highlighting eleven apartment building projects including one community living development at Sound featuring affordable housing units.

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