Owen-sound Council-meeting Meeting Transcript — October 7, 2026

Hook: Candidates debate homelessness solutions and downtown safety strategies at forum.

Owen-sound · Council-meeting · October 7, 2026

Summary

Whole Stream Summary The forum opened with focused discussion on homelessness and vacant storefronts in the River District, where one candidate identified these issues as primary concerns while another advocated for increased community events to enhance downtown safety and vibrancy. A speaker expressed worry that potential shelter developments could lower property values in certain areas, whereas another argued that solutions require a concrete plan with a foundation and suggested initiatives like children's contests to foster unity without supporting tax increases. One participant rejected the use of traditional plastic campaign signs, proposing instead to focus efforts on direct, one-on-one conversations with residents to address community concerns. The discussion concluded with remarks regarding digital campaigning and a refusal to utilise physical advertising materials. Most Newsworthy Items * Homelessness and vacant storefronts in the River District were identified as primary concerns by one candidate during the initial segment of the forum.

Top Newsworthy Developments

Refusal to use plastic campaign signs: The speaker rejects traditional plastic campaign signs and refuses to advertise their name on them. They plan to focus campaign efforts on direct, one-on-one conversations with residents instead.

Key Topics & Sections

Meeting Details

Jurisdiction: Owen-sound
Body: Council-meeting
Date: October 7, 2026
Transcript Status: Machine transcription, lightly cleaned
Official Source: View official meeting page
Agenda Page: View agenda page
Original Video: View original meeting video
Meeting Portal: View eScribe meeting page

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Transcript Notice

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors in wording, speaker identification, punctuation, or timestamps.

It is an unofficial convenience copy provided for reading and searchability.

For the official record, refer to the original source materials published by the relevant authority, including the official video, agenda, minutes, and meeting records.

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Full Transcript

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Homelessness, Vacant Storefronts, and Property Values

One candidate identifies homelessness and vacant storefronts in the River District as primary concerns. Another participant advocates for increased community events to make downtown safer and more vibrant. A speaker also expresses worry that potential shelter developments could lower property values in certain areas.

00:00:00 SPEAKER_002: Introduce yourself.

00:00:01 SPEAKER_002: Yeah, my name is Justin Malanson, and I'm running for City of Owen Sound City Council.

00:00:08 SPEAKER_002: And why are you running?

00:00:11 SPEAKER_002: Well, I'm running because I'm a community member.

00:00:15 SPEAKER_002: I've been living in Owen Sound for the last five years, and I've seen where Owen Sound has gone.

00:00:25 SPEAKER_002: So basically, I grew up...

00:00:30 SPEAKER_002: You know, I'm from, but initially, I grew up close to Big Bay, right?

00:00:38 SPEAKER_002: Okay.

00:00:39 SPEAKER_002: Um, that's where it basically started.

00:00:41 SPEAKER_002: So my heart is with Georgian Bay.

00:00:43 SPEAKER_002: I've always loved Georgian Bay, and it's always been home to me.

00:00:49 SPEAKER_002: Um, you know, I've traveled over the years.

00:00:53 SPEAKER_002: I've gone...

00:00:56 SPEAKER_002: I've lived all over the place in Canada.

00:00:58 SPEAKER_002: You know, Calgary.

00:01:01 SPEAKER_002: What are your top issues for Owen Sound?

00:01:04 SPEAKER_002: Um, my top issues would have to be homelessness.

00:01:09 SPEAKER_002: I'm worried about downtown, the River District.

00:01:15 SPEAKER_002: I'm worried about the storefronts.

00:01:19 SPEAKER_002: I'm worried about the vacant shops in downtown Owen Sound.

00:01:24 SPEAKER_008: I would like to see downtown a lot more vibrant, a lot nicer and easier for people to feel comfortable walking downtown at any given time of the day and night.

00:01:39 SPEAKER_008: I believe that there needs to be more events down there.

00:01:44 SPEAKER_008: Maybe some more community-oriented, you know, events or celebrations or whatever.

00:01:54 SPEAKER_008: Right.

00:01:54 SPEAKER_008: Yeah.

00:01:55 SPEAKER_008: Um...

00:01:55 SPEAKER_008: Something that helps bring people together downtown, so that they feel safe and comfortable.

00:02:03 SPEAKER_008: Right.

00:02:04 SPEAKER_008: Um...

00:02:04 SPEAKER_008: I'm worried about people's property values going down.

00:02:11 SPEAKER_008: Um...

00:02:11 SPEAKER_008: I'm worried about slum areas.

00:02:13 SPEAKER_008: Uh...

00:02:15 SPEAKER_008: So I'm worried about like pockets of potential shelters going up all over the city and lowering people's property value, right?

00:02:27 SPEAKER_008: And what are your solutions?

Community engagement and investment strategy

One speaker argues that solutions require a concrete plan similar to building a house with blueprints and a foundation. They suggest community initiatives like contests for children and encourage residents to talk to their neighbours to foster unity. The speaker believes the city needs more income and explicitly states they do not support raising taxes.

00:02:30 SPEAKER_008: Well, I think that the solutions would have to start with well, it's the people in general.

00:02:39 SPEAKER_008: It's the people that make up Owen Sound.

00:02:42 SPEAKER_008: So I'm concerned about what they're concerned about, right?

00:02:46 SPEAKER_008: And I think it takes a community to come together and really... and start to make things happen, make a difference.

00:02:57 SPEAKER_008: So I believe that investing in the future of Owen Sound, we need to have a plan.

00:03:02 SPEAKER_008: We need to have a good, concrete plan moving forward.

00:03:06 SPEAKER_008: It's kind of similar, like if you were to buy a house, right, or build a house.

00:03:11 SPEAKER_008: You got to pick your property out first.

00:03:14 SPEAKER_008: You got to build the foundation.

00:03:15 SPEAKER_008: You need to have, you know, blueprints.

00:03:18 SPEAKER_008: You got to have a plan, and everybody has an imagination of what Owen Sound is going to be, or what it should be.

00:03:27 SPEAKER_008: And I think that council and the mayor, and also everybody else that's within the community, we need to come together and maybe have a community initiative of some sort, where you know,

00:03:41 SPEAKER_008: like we could have contests for kids: "What do they think about Owen Sound?

00:03:48 SPEAKER_008: What should Owen Sound be?

00:03:51 SPEAKER_008: Where should we go?

00:03:53 SPEAKER_008: What would help the community out more?"

00:03:58 SPEAKER_008: You know, like just go talk to your neighbours.

00:04:03 SPEAKER_008: If you don't talk to your neighbours or you haven't talked to your neighbours, I really encourage everybody to go out there, knock on their door, say hi, or even wave.

00:04:14 SPEAKER_008: It really helps people's day when you just look across the street and say, "Hey, how's it going?"

00:04:21 SPEAKER_008: You know, it kind of starts there, right?

00:04:24 SPEAKER_008: But in my opinion, we need to really bring investment into this city, and we need to definitely start building.

00:04:40 SPEAKER_008: We need more income.

00:04:42 SPEAKER_008: We got to do the best that we possibly can with what we have, right?

00:04:46 SPEAKER_008: And I don't believe in raising taxes.

Refusal to use plastic campaign signs

The speaker rejects traditional plastic campaign signs and refuses to advertise their name on them. They plan to focus campaign efforts on direct, one-on-one conversations with residents instead. This approach aims to address community concerns without relying on temporary physical advertisements.

00:04:48 SPEAKER_008: I believe that if there's anything that we could possibly do, we're going to need to potentially start amalgamating positions or finding a better outcome for the city per tax dollar.

00:05:09 SPEAKER_008: Right, so I mean, right off the spot, that's basically what I'm thinking.

00:05:17 SPEAKER_008: I hope that you know people could see my point of view as well.

00:05:25 SPEAKER_008: But I don't think it's not really about me.

00:05:27 SPEAKER_008: It's about the people of Owen Sound.

00:05:29 SPEAKER_008: So, closing remarks.

00:05:32 SPEAKER_008: Closing.

00:05:35 SPEAKER_008: Thanks, sir.

00:05:36 SPEAKER_008: I...

00:05:38 SPEAKER_008: I don't really have a lot of closing.

00:05:39 SPEAKER_008: I think I pretty much said it all there.

00:05:41 SPEAKER_008: Like, okay.

00:05:43 SPEAKER_008: I mean.