Screen Capture TBPL Youtube
The Thunder Bay Public Library hosted its first community conversation, allowing citizens an opportunity to submit questions to prominent leaders within the community.
As noted by moderator and TBPL CEO Dr. Richard Togman this was a bit of an experiment for the Library but they hope it is the first of many.
The panel included:
- Thunder Bay Mayor Ken Boshcoff (Absent)
- Fort William First Nation Chief Michele Solomon
- Thunder Bay Police Service Chief Darcy Fleury
- Elevate Northwest Executive Director Holly Gauvin
- Canadian Mental Health Association Thunder Bay CEO Jennifer Hyslop
- (Moderator) Thunder Bay Public Library CEO Dr. Richard Togman
Mayor Ken Boshcoff was unable to attend, and citizens and panelists alike were disappointed by his lack of appearance.
The theory is that for every community conversation, there would be a different panel of community leaders, as well as a different focus of conversation.
The focus of the first conversation was public safety. The panel answered pre-chosen questions from the submitted list, and then the audience was allowed an opportunity to ask questions in the second half of the event.
Ultimately conversation focused on community relationships, homelessness, and mental health.
Citizens can submit suggestions for future community conversations on the Thunder Bay public library website, and they can watch a recording of the first community conversation on the TBPL Youtube channel.
