I believe in the value of a strong, supportive community and that means that local government must work with and be sensitive to the issues that affect all groups, including business. I have always pledged to listen to the community and to make sure I understand all the implications of a decision before casing a vote.

Incumbent mayor Deborah Haswell is a 13-year council veteran. She unseated rival candidate Ruth Lovell Stanners by a mere 41 votes in the 2010 municipal election. A graduate of OSCVI, she pursued post-secondary education at Conestoga College in Kitchener, where she earned a Social Services Diploma – graduating at the top of her class. She […]

Four years ago, I thought I was retiring from Council permanently. However, I am compelled to try for a return now because I want to help restore openness, transparency, integrity and trust to the Corporation of the City of Owen Sound.

I have a sincere desire to serve my community as I have since moving here in 1967 when I married my husband Gord. I began working for the City in 1984 moving into the role of Deputy Clerk in 1988 and Clerk in 2007 retiring in 2010.

As a new hopeful, Francesca Dobbyn current Executive Director of United Way Bruce Grey brings a keen awareness of the issues of rural poverty and the challenging economic conditions of this region. Do you have any strategies prepared to encourage local economic growth? Which issue should this next term’s council give to more focus to: […]

Ruth Lovell-Stanners is the former two-term mayor of Owen Sound. In the 2010 municipal election, she was narrowly defeated by Deborah Haswell, by 41 votes. She was also the Ontario Liberal Party candidate in Bruce-Grey in the 1999 provincial election, but lost to incumbent MPP Bill Murdoch. A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, […]

Consider the not-for-profit sector locally. Are they an annoying group that comes door to door always seeking donations, or are they potential partners in the growth of your business? In 2007, the value added or gross domestic product (GDP) of the core non-profit sector amounted to $35.6 billion, accounting for 2.5% of the total Canadian […]