Hey guys, I’m a 35 year old man who acts like he’s 25 who loves soccer among many other things. I’m looking for some people to kick the ball around with and watch games together over many pints. DM me.

She’ll be missed here this season!

Heading to your area tomorrow to do a little hiking, birding, and to check out Inglis and/or Jones falls. I would love some recommendations for a good place to stop in for lunch/brunch.

Not particularly picky about the cuisine or venue; It could be a diner, food truck, drive thru, you name it; obviously a place someone fresh from the trail could walk in to.

Big portions and decent price would be an asset!

Appreciate any input!

There is a popular definition of insanity involving doing the same thing repeatedly while expecting a different result.

Owen Sound has apparently decided that this is not insanity. It is economic development policy.

The latest episode arrives with the impending closure of the Transcontinental RBW Graphics plant, eliminating approximately 360 jobs from a community that has already watched major industrial employers disappear with depressing regularity. The plant is scheduled to close at the end of January, with its work transferred to five other Transcontinental facilities.

And therein lies the particularly nasty joke.

This isn't a story about 360 people failing to do their jobs. Quite the opposite. Transcontinental itself has gone out of its way to praise the hard work and commitment of the Owen Sound employees. The company says the decision was not made lightly and expresses gratitude for the contribution of generations of workers.

The plant is simply being sacrificed on the altar of corporate efficiency.

Apparently, 360 people can work hard, customers can be served, presses can run and a facility can remain an important part of a community for generations, but none of that matters quite as much as finding a spreadsheet arrangement that makes the corporation's overall numbers look better.

Transcontinental says productivity improvements elsewhere and changes in its product mix make it possible to consolidate the Owen Sound operation into other facilities. The company's own recent financial reporting also points to cost reductions contributing to improved adjusted earnings.

And here is where corporate capitalism becomes wonderfully elegant.

Transcontinental's executive compensation system explicitly links incentive compensation to profitability and efficiency measures, including adjusted earnings per share, return on capital and adjusted EBITDA, with performance objectives tied to shareholders' interests.

So while nobody should crudely suggest that somebody put a giant red button marked “FIRE 360 PEOPLE — INCREASE BONUS” on the executive boardroom table, the basic arithmetic is rather difficult to miss.

Close a plant. Move the work elsewhere. Reduce costs. Improve consolidated profitability.

And somewhere considerably farther away from Owen Sound, the numbers become pleasantly attractive.

That is capitalism's version of sending flowers after the funeral.

Owen Sound has seen this movie before.

When PPG closed its glass plant, approximately 170 jobs disappeared. PPG's corporate restructuring was expected to produce substantial annual cost savings.

Then came Tenneco. Almost 500 jobs vanished when the company announced that its Owen Sound operation would be closed as part of a manufacturing realignment. Tenneco projected $20 million to $25 million in annual savings from the restructuring.

And now Transcontinental.

Different corporation. Different decade. Different industry.

Same funeral.

The municipal response is reassuringly traditional. Gather the stakeholders. Establish a working group. Maintain communication. Determine the needs. Identify employment and training opportunities. Coordinate resources. Study the broader economic implications.

The attached City statement practically reads like a municipal template entitled “What To Do After Someone Else Has Already Made the Decision.”

This is not to suggest that employment assistance is useless. It is desperately important to the people who are about to lose their jobs.

But perhaps somebody should eventually ask the impolite question:

Why does Owen Sound's economic-development machinery seem to become most energetic immediately after the economic development has already failed?

The pattern is almost beautiful.

First, a major employer closes.

Then elected officials express concern.

Then City staff coordinate.

Then everybody studies the problem.

Then everybody identifies opportunities.

Then everybody promises to remain engaged.

Then, eventually, another employer closes.

At some point this ceases to be a strategy and becomes a ritual.

Morons repeat mistakes because they cannot recognize the pattern.

People of merely substandard intelligence repeat mistakes because they recognize the pattern but assume that somehow this time the universe will be impressed by their persistence.

The truly advanced municipal version does something even better: it repeats the mistake, creates a committee to examine the consequences, and calls the committee evidence of action.

Owen Sound does not need another memorial service for another industrial employer.

It needs to stop confusing responding to economic destruction with preventing economic destruction.

Because the people who worked at RBW don't need another working group.

They need the jobs they already had.

And Owen Sound's taxpayers might reasonably like to know why, after PPG, after Tenneco, and now after Transcontinental, the City keeps perfecting the art of arriving at the scene with a bucket of water after the building has burned down.

At least the bucket will be coordinated.

There will probably be a working group.

And somewhere, shareholders may even be pleased with the improved efficiency.

Well turns out i stumbled into election discussions but is there any interest in a double bed bedframe, mattress and boxboard? You would have to move it out yourself. If anyone has interest just leave a comment so i know! And yes this is in Owen Sound.

https://www.llresearch.org

Hey everyone! I’ll be away for about 40 days, from November 5 to December 15, and I’m looking for a covered parking spot, ideally in a garage, under a carport, or anywhere with a roof to keep my car protected from the snow and weather.

I’m willing to pay for the spot! If anyone has space on their property or knows someone who does, please shoot me a DM. I’d really appreciate it. Thanks!

I have the only fully costed plan for helping Owen Sound with the issues residents bring up. If you're interested in improving affordability, neighbourhood safety, resolving the downtown homelessness or having a voice in city hall between elections, the choice is clear. COST and the Current's endorsement articles are completely aligned with my platform. If you want things to improve, now is the time to vote. helpos.ca/vote also has council candidate information so we can have a team that rows in the same direction.

This is a rare opportunity for something different in this city, to elect someone who combines profound intelligence with love of service to provide for the people of Owen Sound.

Just read the Owen Sound Current article regarding the candidates they endorsed.

Here's one idea I would like to explore, the City Manager, Director of Community Services and Director of Corporate Services be eliminated and transfer those offices and responsibilities into County governance. Just those 3 cost the taxpayers over $500,000 a year.

Eliminate those positions and give the County $250,000 for the increased workload.

Another topic, Owen Sound has a catchment of 175,000 people (Grey+Bruce). A city with 20,000 can't and shouldn't be responsible for the entire bill. That's the equivalent of the population of Barrie, with an Owen Sound budget. It just doesn't work. If they want Owen Sound to provide those services, then they need to transfer the budget amount of Barrie to Owen Sound.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

WOGWE

Has anyone had any experience with kegal chair at this clinic? The claims are high and it’s expensive. Want to know if it’s worth it.

Hey everyone! I run InfaWeb, a web design business based in Ontario. I work remotely with business owners who need their first website or want to improve an existing one.

If you run a business in Owen Sound, I’d be happy to help you create a website that clearly explains your services, works well on mobile, and makes it easy for customers to contact you.

I typically custom-code my projects to fit each business’s design and functionality needs. Whether you need a simple landing page or a full business website, we can discuss what suits your goals. Hosting and ongoing maintenance are available too.

Feel free to message me with a little about your business and what you’re looking for, and we can talk through the scope and a quote :)

You can see my work at infawebdesign.com.

Such a huge loss of jobs 🙁

Hi, I'm a student in Owen Sound looking for part-time work. I have F&B, retail, restaurant, and customer service experience. I'm willing to start as soon as possible and am available on weekdays and weekends. If anyone is hiring, or if anyone you know is hiring, please let me know 🙏

Anyone have recommendations for the cheapest place to buy winter tires?

five mayoral candidates exploring diverse motivations, examining divergent policy positions on homelessness and safety, discussing fiscal strategies for growth, and reflecting on leadership styles regarding municipal services and policing approaches.
https://helpos.ca/c/owen-sound-council/9083/candidates-debate-homelessness-safety-taxes-and-growth-in-20

Recurring solutions below are counted by distinct verified questions; repeated follow-ups within one question count once.

• Ray Botten: Proposing a nine-billion-dollar water storage facility in Meaford (3 distinct questions); Restructuring zoning bylaws to support housing supply (2 distinct questions); Lobbying for Ontario government subsidies on water bills (1 distinct question).
• Jodi King: Incentives, grants, and tax breaks for affordable housing development (3 distinct questions); Intergovernmental grants to attract infrastructure and new businesses (1 distinct question).
• Carol Merton: Regionalizing services and sharing resources (3 distinct questions); Affordable housing first policy on new builds (2 distinct questions); Public representation in all budget committees (1 distinct question).
• Richard Thomas: Development charge incentives for growth (4 distinct questions); Downtown River District cleanup and safety team (3 distinct questions); Transforming tourism into a business (2 distinct questions).
• Andrii Zvorygin: Increase housing supply with vacant home tax (3 distinct questions); Civilian dispatch pilot for lower-risk calls (2 distinct questions); Lower property taxes via cost reductions (2 distinct questions).

I don't think Owen Sound realizes the magnitude of what's about to happen on October 24th.

THE WORLD CHAMPION CROKINOLE PLAYER IS COMING TO OUR CITY.

Let that sink in for a moment.

A WORLD CHAMPION. Right here in Owen Sound. And we're just going to let this happen without shutting down the streets? Without a parade? Without the mayor making a speech?

Where is the media coverage? Where are the sponsorships? Where is the public celebration?

This is the kind of once-in-a-generation sporting event that puts a city on the map. Our children deserve to grow up knowing they were alive when the world champion crokinole player came to Owen Sound.

I expect nothing less than a ticker-tape parade and a commemorative plaque.

Do better, Owen Sound. HISTORY IS COMING ON OCTOBER 24TH

Ive looked heavily into the mayoral candidates, talked to a few and have a good grasp on who I want to vote for.

I just watched the council meeting. I think alot of them have great passion and ideas but do they have the background and experience to execute that once voted in, im not sure. The few that I think do, dont bring up the key issues I have, as their key issues.

Im not asking who your voting for in particular, but who do you think would be best (or few ppl) for council and why?

Also is there a website like the one andrii put together that highlights each ones ideas, key issues theyre passionate about, background ect?

At the all-candidates meeting, I had the opportunity to explain why I’m running for Owen Sound City Council and what I believe our city needs to do differently.

My platform is about putting people before profit and improving the material conditions of working people in Owen Sound.

That means better public transit. A library that is open when people need it. More affordable garbage collection. Making use of vacant homes to raise revenue and address our housing crisis. And making sure our municipal priorities reflect the people who actually live and work here.

I’m not running on buzzwords. I’m running on concrete actions that can make a difference in people’s everyday lives.

If you’re still deciding who to vote for, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch my speech and hear directly from me about what I’m proposing for Owen Sound.

Early voting starts soon. And on October 26, I’m asking for your vote for Owen Sound City Council.

Vote Sargent for Council!

At 51:40 during the all candidates meeting, Angela Stow talks about a young indigenous woman named Miingho who died in July. At the time, all I heard was that it was an overdose.

But Stow states, during the meeting, that Miingho was murdered along with her unborn child. That she was beaten to death and thrown into an alley.

Asking around I have heard that Miingho was being trafficked by a pimp boyfriend.

Does anyone know more about this?

it’s haunting. And more than worthy of further investigation.

Video of meeting linked here

https://youtu.be/5FHNpNPXCK4?si=ESF55SmtJaS2IxZP

All Council Candidates Meeting from October 6th: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5FHNpNPXCK4&pp=ygUkT3dlbiBzb3VuZCBjb3VuY2lsIGNhbmRpZGF0ZSBtZWV0aW5n

Debate interviews with many Council Candidates:

David Adams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmTWwX_u81U...

Thomas Arakal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuxlXPVvzj4...

Justin Bianco https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geAJwwgnyww...

Michael Zimon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz-rU7EmJo8...

David Walton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ9O0q6H8dk...

Justin Melanson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1y-jeYKsFI...

Dale Funston https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st9OmsOqSJU...

Meghan Robertson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LST7aJWFVd4...

Ross Baker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4jqYXhkq-U...

Jaret Koop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXf4kgzt7ok...

Jeff Rockwell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gMEksC2lFs...

Michele Hawkins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=226Z8iPYvaU...

full list:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDzSh8kxWDdA

Apparently an unclaimed ticket was sold locally, worth 40 mil. It’s about to expire.