Community Engagement

The City of Owen Sound recognizes that engaged citizens make communities stronger, healthier and better able to meet the needs of the people who live and work in them. The City is committed to promoting active and ongoing citizen engagement to connect individuals with a shared sense of purpose, for creative problem-solving, and community building.

We recognize the importance of involving citizens in the development of policy, programs and services and are committed to ensuring there is a range of opportunities for the community to become knowledgeable about local government and actively involved in civic life.

It is important that our policies, programs and the decisions of Council reflect the diverse voices, ideas and opinions of our community.  Our community engagement practices are guided by the City's Community Engagement Policy and internal toolkit to help plan and evaluate public feedback.

There are many ways the public can engage with City decisions through Council and Committee meetings:

• Serve on a committee as a volunteer member

• Attend meetings that are open to the public to listen and stay informed

• Speak at a meeting to share your views directly with Council or Committee members

• Submit a letter to be included on a meeting agenda

  • To submit written comments for a meeting, send them to:

  • Briana Bloomfield, City Clerk
    bbloomfield@owensound.ca
    808 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound, ON N4K 2H4

  • Letters must be easy to read, include your name and contact information, and clearly state that they are intended for a Council or Committee agenda.

For more details on how to participate in a Council or Committee meeting, check out our Public Participation in Council Meetings Explained guide.