Municipal Election 2026

With the municipal election quickly approaching, Creative Industries invited all mayoral and council candidates to respond to three questions about the importance of North Bay’s creative sector.

As North Bay considers the future of our community, we asked candidates to consider the creative sector not simply as a matter of cultural policy, but as part of our broader economic development strategy.

1. Arts + Culture as Economic Development

Ontario’s cultural sector contributes an estimated $26.4 billion to the provincial economy and supports more than 270,000 jobs. Research from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce has also identified vibrant cultural infrastructure as an important factor in creating communities that attract investment, talent and economic activity.

If elected, what specific investment, policy or initiative would you pursue to grow the city’s creative economy and the jobs, businesses and investment that come with it?

2. Arts + Culture for Downtown Revitalization

North Bay’s downtown strategy identifies festivals, events, live music venues, galleries, public art, tourism, and the local film and television industry as potential economic drivers. At the same time, successful downtowns increasingly compete not only on retail and commercial space, but on experiences, culture, entertainment and reasons for people to spend time there.

What role should arts, culture and creative businesses play in making North Bay’s downtown a destination that attracts people, supports local businesses and generates tourism and investment?

3. Attracting Talent & Growing Our Tax Base

As major cities become increasingly unaffordable, North Bay is competing with other communities to attract and retain young people, entrepreneurs, skilled workers and investment. Research shows that younger people are looking for more than a job and an affordable place to live. They also value culture, entertainment, amenities, experiences and “things to do” when deciding where they want to build their lives.

What role should North Bay’s arts and cultural sector play in attracting and retaining talent, businesses and investment and strengthening the local economy and tax base?

Visit the City of North Bay's website here for further info on candidates, as well as voting information for the 2026 election.

Mayor

1. Arts and culture are engines of economic development. My focus is on smart investment, stronger partnerships, and building the infrastructure that allows creators, cultural organizations, and creative businesses to thrive. As Mayor, I will pursue three specific initiatives to grow North Bay’s creative economy and the jobs and investment that come with it:
Plan, Place and Partnership.

Plan: North Bay needs a coordinated plan that positions arts, culture, and creative industries as part of our economic development portfolio. This would assist by mapping existing cultural assets and businesses. An opportunity to identify gaps in infrastructure and opportunities for growth. It would set clear targets and strengthen partnerships with local arts organizations and postsecondary institutions.

Place: Creative work requires space that includes studios, rehearsal rooms, galleries, performance venues, and digital media facilities. I support existing cultural venues and support exploring the development of flexible, affordable creative workspaces in the community.
Partnership: Arts and culture tourism is one of Ontario’s strongest economic multipliers. North Bay can grow this by working together to expand waterfront and downtown cultural events, including supporting new and returning events that highlight local music, film, art and makers. It is also important to create year-round programming that brings people together across the city and supports local businesses.

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2. Successful downtowns offer reasons to linger from music, events, patios, public art, and spaces that feel welcoming and vibrant. Arts and culture create that energy. I already see Downtown North Bay as a place where there is regular live music and cultural programming. More frequent events that bring residents and visitors together in the heart of the city will only deepen this reality.

Arts and culture directly support restaurants, cafes, retail, and hospitality. When people come downtown for a show, a gallery opening, a market, or a festival, they also shop, eat, and explore. By supporting arts and culture we increase more customers for small businesses, more evening and weekend activity and a supportive environment for entrepreneurs.

North Bay’s creative strengths include film production, music, arts, makers, cultural events, and waterfront events that can be leveraged to build a downtown identity that attracts visitors and investment. This should include working in coordination with Downtown North Bay, Tourism North Bay and other partners to ensure an aligned strategy, deepened partnerships with the film and television sector to showcase, and include signature cultural events that draw regional and provincial audiences.

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3. Younger residents and skilled workers look for cities with energy and places where there are things to do after work, places to meet people, and places that feel vibrant. A strong arts and cultural sector will only strengthen opportunities to connect with community including:

Live music, festivals, and nightlife

Galleries, makerspaces, and creative hubs

Public art and cultural programming

Creative sectors and industries including film, post production, digital media, design, music, publishing, and cultural tourism, are high‑growth sectors across Ontario. We need to support creative industries so they can create new jobs, support other businesses and attract investments to North Bay.

North Bay’s affordability and natural environment already make it attractive. What seals the deal for entrepreneurs and remote workers is a community with creative spaces, events and experiences. We need to grow these areas and support our downtown as a place that is welcoming and dynamic.

Cities that succeed in attracting talent have a clear identity. North Bay’s identity is rooted in creativity, film, music, culture, and our waterfront. Strengthening arts and culture helps us market North Bay as a place that is vibrant and modern. It will help attract investors who want to be a part of the growing community and supports tourism that brings new spending and economic activity.

Arts and culture are central to attracting talent, growing businesses, and strengthening North Bay’s tax base. By investing in cultural infrastructure, supporting creative entrepreneurs, and building a downtown full of experiences and energy, we can make North Bay a place where people choose to build their lives.
1. If elected, I would treat the creative sector as a core economic driver rather than a discretionary program. Specific priorities would include:

Incrementally growing the city’s Arts Fund (currently delivering high returns) toward the levels Creative Industries has outlined, while requiring clear metrics on jobs, leveraged private/provincial dollars, and business activity.

Streamlining permitting and support for film/TV productions, live music venues, galleries, and maker spaces so North Bay remains competitive as a production and creative hub.

Aligning cultural investments with economic development tools (Community Improvement Plans, façade grants, tourism marketing) so public dollars catalyze private investment in studios, event spaces, and related businesses.

Partnering with Creative Industries, the Downtown Improvement Area, and regional tourism bodies on data collection and a stronger events calendar to turn cultural activity into measurable visitor spending and local employment.

The goal is jobs, businesses, and investment that stay in North Bay—not just programming for its own sake.

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2. Arts, culture, and creative businesses should be central to making downtown a destination, not an afterthought. Successful downtowns compete on experiences. North Bay’s existing Downtown Waterfront Master Plan already identifies festivals, live music, galleries, public art, tourism, and film/TV as drivers; the recent Main Street makeover and waterfront improvements create the physical platform. Culture’s role should include:

Activating public spaces year-round with free or low-barrier events (building on Arts & Culture Nights), public art, and pop-up creative retail to draw people downtown after work and on weekends.

Supporting permanent and temporary creative businesses (venues, galleries, studios, artisan retail) through targeted incentives so they fill vacant storefronts and generate foot traffic for restaurants and shops.

Treating film/TV production and major events as economic anchors that bring crews, visitors, and spending into the core while showcasing the city.

Ensuring safety, cleanliness, and easy access so people feel comfortable lingering for culture and entertainment.

This approach supports existing local businesses and generates tourism and private investment by giving people compelling reasons to spend time (and money) downtown.

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3. Younger workers, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals increasingly choose communities based on quality of life—culture, entertainment, amenities, and “things to do”—alongside jobs and housing costs. North Bay’s relative affordability is an advantage; a vibrant creative sector turns that into a retention and attraction strategy.

Arts and culture should:

Help keep local talent and attract newcomers by offering a richer calendar of experiences, live music, festivals, galleries, and creative career pathways so people do not feel they must leave for a fuller life.

Signal to businesses and investors that North Bay is a place where employees will want to live, reducing recruitment friction and supporting long-term growth of the tax base through higher occupancy, new residential demand, and commercial activity.

Integrate with housing and economic development efforts: creative workers and related businesses often revitalize underused spaces and contribute to a more diverse, resilient local economy.

A modest, well-measured public investment in culture pays dividends in population retention, private investment, and the broader tax base when it is treated as infrastructure for livability and economic competitiveness. These positions align with documented local returns and existing city strategies while remaining fiscally realistic.

No response from: Connor Currie, Melanie Demers, & Daniel Seguin.

Council

1. As a former Council member and Chair of Community Services, I have reviewed proposals from other communities, many of them in Quebec, for the development of cultural and artistic hubs. I have also spoken with residents who have pointed out that North Bay offers many activities for children interested in sports, but fewer opportunities for those whose interests are in drama, the arts and other creative activities. In August, the Community Services Department issued an RFP for the development of an Arts and Culture Master Plan. I believe this plan can provide an important framework for strengthening North Bay’s creative economy and creating opportunities for local artists, cultural organizations and creative businesses. If elected, I would advocate for meaningful input from North Bay’s creative industries and community stakeholders as the plan is developed. I would also carefully review the draft Master Plan when it comes to Council and ask questions about how its recommendations could translate into practical opportunities for creative businesses, employment, cultural programming and investment in our community. For me, growing the creative economy is not simply about creating more activities. It is about recognizing the economic and community value of the people and businesses already contributing to North Bay’s creative sector and finding ways to help that sector grow.
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2. Art and culture is a vital part of attracting and retaining individual who are not sports-minded and would prefer to enjoy their leisure time being creative. Arts and culture can play a vital role in making North Bay’s downtown a destination, not only for people who enjoy sports, but also for those who want to spend their leisure time enjoying the arts, being creative and experiencing live performances. The city has already expanded its Summer Concert Series, and I believe we can build on that momentum by using existing downtown spaces in more creative ways. The Kiwanis Band Shell could host dance groups, theatre, poetry readings and other cultural performances. Canada Place and at the underpass where the sculpture is located could also become informal venues for performances and gatherings. The city could also host guest speakers of different topic with time allotted for Q &A. These events can also create opportunities for downtown businesses. Restaurants could partner with performances by offering a special dinner before a show or drinks afterward, similar to what is already happening around performances at the Capitol Centre. By creating more reasons for people to come downtown, stay longer and experience what our local businesses and artists have to offer, arts and culture can help strengthen our downtown, support local businesses and give visitors another reason to choose North Bay as a destination.

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3. Arts and culture are part of what makes North Bay a place where people want to live, work and build a future. Young people and families look for more than jobs and affordable housing. They also want music, theatre, art and things to do. A strong arts and cultural sector supports local artists and businesses. Events bring people downtown and into our restaurants and shops. They give visitors another reason to come to North Bay, and residents another reason to stay. North Bay’s Strategic Plan recognizes that arts and culture can help attract talent and support creative businesses. I agree. We should help create opportunities for this sector to grow, while making sure municipal spending provides good value for residents. When we make North Bay a more welcoming and interesting place to live, we also make it easier to attract people, businesses and investment.
1. In my previous role as Dean at Canadore College, I was very successful in accessing provincial and government grants through partnering with regional groups and submitting joint applications. The Arts and Culture sector lends itself exceptionally well to this approach. If elected, I plan to support and encourage our creative partners to work alongside city staff, such as the Economic Development office, to seek out and submit partner grant funding applications. Additionally, I support initiatives and policies directed at advancing the 'culture' of our city to becoming an arts-friendly city. This may include investments in arts-focused street flags (see the North Bay downtown examples), public messaging in support of the arts, and financial support for festivals, etc. I also look forward to reviewing the new 10-year Arts & Culture plan and the recommendations put forward. I will encourage the city to work closely with Creative Industries to find funding sources, including municipal grants, to bring the recommendations to reality. New initiatives may include streamlining the city bureaucracy so that those in this industry can focus on event delivery versus paperwork. The creative industries can also be integrated into Tourism North Bay to leverage their audience and funding sources. Similar to my support in incorporating green initiatives into city planning, the city should also be encouraged to incorporate local creative talent into many city planning items.

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2. In my opinion, arts, culture and creative businesses have a long-standing presence in our downtown. They continue to bring people to the downtown and support local businesses. I support a dedicated downtown hub for the arts. I am hoping that the new Shadfly venue will be able to access funding to bring people downtown and provide a space for creative businesses and the arts. Research shows that arts & culture positively impact a community's economy and generate tourism. In my opinion, the arts, culture and creative business groups should play a lead role, in collaboration with the city and DIA, in making the downtown a destination place, including toward the waterfront.

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3. In my opinion, North Bay's arts and cultural sector can play a lead role in strengthening the local economy and tax base through attracting new families and engaging our youth. This sector is often attractive as an alternative to sports and outdoor recreation. It is often viewed as an inclusive 'community' open to new experiences. This can appeal to those young people and families seeking a place to start their roots, thus increasing our tax base. The film industry has proven to be a source of new investment, and also provides our city the opportunity to reach a broader audience of potential residents. I view our arts & culture sector as being highly valuable to our local economy and growth. I will support the leads from this industry locally to be consulted and play an active role in decision-making for the city.
1. While I have some specific ideas in relation to the other two questions, I’m unfortunately not clear enough on what City Council can do in this respect to give an informed answer. I’d rather admit I don’t know than promote an unfeasible idea. That being said, I think the creative sector is incredibly and increasingly important to our local economy and that needs to be recognized and supported materially by actions from the City. If elected, I would certainly look into the specifics more closely and also support fellow councillors if they were to bring something forward for this goal.

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2. Arts and culture are essential to a vibrant downtown. There should be more third-space venues to allow individuals and small groups to showcase their work, along with opportunities to bring groups together for larger events. In whatever ways possible, the city should help creative businesses and related non-profits to thrive. This may include efforts to shift people’s mindset to see downtown as that destination. Expanding the summer music series to have acoustic music sets downtown on summer evenings seems like a simple way that the City could encourage a different perspective.

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3. I believe there are many things we can do to make North Bay more attractive to new residents, whether from other parts of Canada or other parts of the world. Among those things is to actively seek opportunities to enhance and promote this sector. A strong arts and cultural sector is a sign of a healthy community. If there are direct investment possibilities that could build on this, those should be considered, along with petitioning other levels of government for funding. Promoting the current arts and culture here seems more of an after-thought when it could be a centrepiece. The “Arts, Heritage & Culture” page of the City’s website is woefully sparse and needs to be revamped to showcase many art galleries, multiple theatre groups, local musicians, film opportunities, etc.
1. I’m a strong supporter of the arts. During my last term, I championed a range of artistic and cultural initiatives, including the installation of public art through my work on the Public Art Advisory Committee, the expansion of Arts & Culture Nights as Chair of Community Services, and support for Creative Industries’ Micro-Grant Program. I also actively participated in the local arts community by attending gallery exhibitions, art workshops, theatre performances, concerts, and other cultural events throughout the city.

If re-elected, I would like to pursue the purchase of a school or building for a shared Arts and Culture Hub. I envision the Hub as a location where arts organizations, creative businesses, community groups, and instructors can access affordable space. Community groups like Gateway Theatre Guild, Dreamcoat, CanAfric Theatre, Creative Industries, North Bay Potters Guild and others could utilize the space for their community programming.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I can promise North Bay residents continue to feel heard and seen. I look forward to working with community partners and champions to develop and implement North Bay's Cultural Master Plan and strengthen the city's arts, culture, and heritage sectors. The work on the Cultural Master Plan is starting shortly and will result in recommendations for how the City can best support the arts and how we can collaborate to leverage strengths and work through challenges. I strongly support using the plan to guide future investments, priorities, and coordination in order to strengthen the local economy and quality of life for North Bay residents.

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2. Arts and culture are crucial for community development, tourism, and making people feel at home. Events like the Bay Block Party, the Gallery Hop, the Winter Market, and Ice Follies add vibrancy to our city and attract many visitors, which has a huge economic spin off for local businesses. Public art installations and murals liven up spaces, allow the community to have a voice, and bring people together in new ways.

Investment in arts and culture is key to a thriving city. In my next term, I want to continue City investments in public art and cultural tourism initiatives that encourage visitors to stop, stay longer, and support local businesses in North Bay, such as Creative Industries’ micro-grants funding. I also support continuing event grants, funding for public art initiatives, and incentives for downtown businesses looking to create murals through the Growth Community Improvement Program. It is also worth exploring whether it is feasible to extend this program to local businesses beyond our downtown core. Our film industry, as well as arts and culture programs at Nipissing University and Canadore College, play an important role in attracting talent, supporting local jobs, and showcasing North Bay to new audiences. I will continue to support festivals, cultural programming, creative businesses, and placemaking initiatives that strengthen our downtown, celebrate local talent, attract visitors year-round, and contribute to a vibrant and prosperous community.

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3. People want to live in and operate businesses in thriving cities. Arts and culture enhance the liveability of a community by offering engaging activities for people to participate in, creating a sense of belonging, creating jobs, attracting tourism, and contributing to the economy.

I recognize that the arts and culture sector was among the hardest hit by the pandemic and it continues to experience challenges with funding sustainability. I believe we need to find ways to better assist the arts and cultural sector and make a commitment to our artists and creative groups that they can count on. Creative Industries’ micro-grants, the City’s events grants, and the City’s Grant facilitator supporting navigation of funding opportunities available are current initiatives that I support, but there is more work to be done. I look forward to hearing from residents and community partners about what other actions the City can take through the creation of the Cultural Master Plan.

Moving forward, a priority for me is to identify ways to strengthen partnerships with organizations like Canadore College, Nipissing University, school boards, Indigenous organizations, Near North Mobile Media Lab, and Digital Creator North, among others to foster and retain creative talent. If youth have more opportunities to access arts programming, they can develop creative skills that can lead to future careers.

In sum, a strong creative sector fosters community vibrancy which in turn encourages people and businesses to come to North Bay and youth to build their lives here. I’m thrilled and grateful to be a part of it.
1. Council provided $80K in 2026 to fund an Arts Community Action plan. One of the first things the next Council will do is choose a firm to complete the plan. It will identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for growth in the sector. I will embrace this plan and work with Council and the Sector to build on its Strengths, improve its weaknesses and invest in its Growth. From my perspective, the Creative Sector is part, a big part of the City's Economic Development strategy.
North Bay’s Downtown strategy identifies festivals, events, live music venues, galleries, public art, tourism, and the local film and television industry as potential economic drivers. At the same time, successful downtowns increasingly compete not only on retail and commercial space, but on experiences, culture, entertainment and reasons for people to spend time there.

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2. A vibrant Creative sector in our Downtown/Waterfront has always been something that I have advocated and worked towards. The Sector plays a huge role in making our Downtown unique and a desirable destination for Citizens, Tourists and Investment. During my last term on Council, 2018-22 I was able to secure $15K in City funding to complete a study on the benefits of a Downtown Arts Hub. If elected, I would like to revisit this study, explore grant opportunities and potential for Private Sector Investment. We must continue to build on our Cultural Infrastructure.
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3. The Sector should play a lead role. A vibrant Creative Sector is desirable to families and businesses looking to relocate and helps retain and attract talent. The next Council should take note that their $20K investment has generated $360K in Economic impact. That is money well spent and a great investment for the City. Let's make more of that happen.
1. If elected to North Bay City Council, I would look at how we can use the resources we already have to make it easier for our creative economy to grow. North Bay has talented artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, cultural organizations and creative entrepreneurs. These people are not just contributors to our quality of life—they are also small businesses, employers, taxpayers and economic drivers.

My approach would be practical and financially responsible. I would work with local creative organizations, Canadore College, Nipissing University, downtown businesses and the private sector to identify the barriers that are making it harder to operate and grow. That includes looking at municipal fees, permitting, access to public spaces and underused properties. Where the City can remove unnecessary red tape or make better use of existing assets, we should do that. Where there is an opportunity for a targeted municipal investment, I would want to see a clear return—whether that means jobs created, businesses supported, visitors attracted or private investment leveraged. I don't believe taxpayers should be asked to continually subsidize businesses. I believe the City should create an environment where entrepreneurs and creative businesses have the opportunity to succeed.

For me, this is about growing North Bay's economy, supporting local businesses and creating more reasons for people—especially our young people—to build their future here.

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2. Arts, culture and creative businesses should play a major role in making downtown North Bay a place where people want to spend time again. I have lived in North Bay my entire life, and I remember a downtown that was busy, active and a destination for families. I believe we can bring more of that energy back. Live music, festivals, markets, galleries, restaurants, independent retailers and local creative businesses all give people a reason to come downtown. Once people are there, they support other businesses. That creates a stronger local economy and makes the downtown more attractive to visitors and investors.

As a councillor, I would support practical steps to make that easier. We should look at how we use public spaces, whether underused properties can be activated, and whether municipal permitting, fees or regulations are creating unnecessary barriers for events and small businesses. But I also believe the City can't do this alone. We need better coordination between City Hall, downtown businesses, tourism, property owners and the creative community.

I've been talking about the importance of our downtown for years. We don't need to reinvent North Bay—we need to make better use of what we already have and create an environment where people want to come, stay, shop, eat and invest. And we need to do it responsibly, without putting another unnecessary burden on taxpayers.

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3. North Bay's arts and cultural sector should be part of our broader strategy for attracting and retaining people, businesses and investment. Economic development isn't just about bringing a company to town. It's also about creating a community where people want to live, work, raise a family and build a business. As someone who was born and raised in North Bay, I understand why people love this community. But I also understand the challenge of keeping our young people here and attracting new people to the city. We need good jobs, but we also need a vibrant community and a downtown that people are proud of.

Arts, culture and creative businesses contribute to that. They create jobs, attract visitors, support local spending and make North Bay a more attractive place to live. I would like to see stronger partnerships between the City, our educational institutions, local businesses and the creative sector so that people have opportunities to develop skills, start businesses and build careers here. But I would approach this the same way I would approach any other economic-development initiative: What is the cost? What is the benefit? Can we leverage private investment? And are we getting measurable results?

My goal isn't to create permanent dependence on City funding. My goal is to create the conditions for people and businesses to succeed. If we can retain more of our young people, attract new talent, grow local businesses and increase investment, that strengthens North Bay's economy and ultimately our tax base. That's the kind of economic development I want to see.
North Bay’s creative sector plays such an important roll throughout the community and district. Municipal/Council support is so important to keep the arts alive. The impact to the community goes far beyond one group and touches everyone’s lives. It’s an investment in our community’s future, an investment in health, culture, tourism, downtown, business and jobs. Council and the arts community need to work hand in hand to maintain the arts . Our current and future generations will continue to benefit.
1. Culture is economic infrastructure, not a luxury! When a city possesses a vibrant creative sector, it retains talent, fills storefronts, drives foot traffic to local businesses, and builds a distinct identity that attracts outside investment. Growing our creative economy requires moving past symbolic support and treating arts and culture with the same strategic priority as roads, transit, and zoning.

If elected, I will pursue the following specific initiatives to grow our city's creative economy:

Creative Space Zoning & Regulatory Relief: Try and update municipal zoning bylaws to make it easier to establish live-work spaces, creative hubs, and pop-up galleries in underutilized commercial corridors and vacant storefronts.

Streamlined Municipal Permitting: Seek to cut the red tape and administrative friction for local artists, musicians, and organizers trying to secure permits for public installations, community festivals, and cultural events.

Leveraging Municipal Procurement: Suggest the city direct a portion of municipal public works and infrastructure spending toward local artists and creative businesses for public art, urban design, and city branding projects.

Integrated Creative Tourism Marketing: Ensure the city's economic development and tourism strategies actively integrate and cross-promote local arts and cultural assets to draw regional visitors.

By removing regulatory barriers and treating creative spaces as essential community assets, we can unlock local talent, generate sustainable jobs, and build a more resilient municipal economy.

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2. Arts, culture, and creative businesses are the foundation of a resilient downtown economy. In a modern retail landscape, a downtown cannot survive on retail and commercial office space alone. It must compete on foot traffic, experiences, and community connection. Creative spaces and live events aren't just amenities, they are the economic anchors that pull people out of their homes, fill restaurants, support neighboring storefronts, and convert casual visitors into tourists.

To make North Bay’s downtown a competitive destination, arts and culture must play a highly active role through the following structural shifts:

Expanding the Festival and Event Footprint: The city could treat the downtown core as a year-round stage. This means partnering with local organizers to streamline the closure of key streets for weekend night markets, live music series, and cultural festivals that draw regional crowds.

Creating a High-Density Arts Corridor: Will recommend the city use municipal incentives to cluster galleries, studios, and creative businesses together downtown. When creative spaces are grouped tightly, they create a natural walking tour that extends the time and money people spend in the core.

Capitalizing on the Film and Television Momentum: North Bay has become a proven hub for film production. The city needs to actively bridge this industry with the downtown core by creating dedicated incentives for productions to utilize downtown businesses, venues, and local creative talent.

Activating Vacant and Underutilized Spaces: Will work with downtown property owners to turn empty storefronts into temporary pop-up galleries, creator workspaces, or retail incubators for local artisans, removing the blight of empty windows and replacing it with visual vitality.

By actively integrating our creative sector into the physical footprint of downtown, we transform the core from a place people simply drive through into a primary destination where they choose to stay.

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3. A thriving creative sector is a powerful recruitment tool for the modern workforce. The reality of today’s economy is that skilled workers, young families, and entrepreneurs can choose to live almost anywhere. When people look to relocate from unaffordable major centers to North Bay, they aren't just looking for a job and a roof over their heads, they are looking for a community where they can actually build a life. A city without a vibrant cultural fabric, live entertainment, and things to do will always lose talent to cities that invest in their identity. To expand our tax base and bring new investment to North Bay, our arts and cultural sector must be leveraged as a core economic driver:

Retaining Local Talent: Will recommend the city invest heavily in educating youth at Nipissing University and Canadore College. A dynamic, culturally rich city gives those graduates a reason to stay and plant roots in North Bay rather than taking their skills and tax dollars down south.

Attracting Remote Workers and Entrepreneurs: The creative sector builds the specific quality of life that appeals to high-earning remote workers and innovators. By positioning North Bay as a city where affordability meets a rich, active cultural scene, we pull in external income that feeds directly into our local businesses.

Strengthening the Municipal Tax Base: When creative infrastructure makes neighborhoods highly desirable, it drives smart, localized property value growth and fills vacant commercial spaces. This directly strengthens the municipal tax base without placing an unfair burden on existing residents.

We cannot build a growing, resilient city on affordability alone. Investing in our arts and culture is how we give people a reason to choose North Bay, stay in North Bay, and contribute to our long-term economic stability.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to these important questions. I have spent most of my life involved in community service and music — as a musician, music teacher and municipal politician. I have seen firsthand that a strong community is about more than roads, water and buildings. It is also about creating a place where people want to live, work, visit and invest.

1. If elected, I would support a more deliberate approach to recognizing the creative sector as part of North Bay's economic development strategy. My experience in municipal government has taught me that public investment needs to have a clear purpose, measurable outcomes and accountability. I believe the City should work with Creative Industries, Tourism North Bay, Canadore College, Nipissing University, the business community and other partners to establish a multi-year creative economy strategy focused on jobs, business development, tourism, events and investment.

I would particularly like to see us build on the sectors where North Bay has existing strengths — music, festivals and events, film and digital media, local makers and artisans, and the businesses that support these activities.

I have always believed that municipal government should be a partner and facilitator rather than trying to do everything itself. We should look for opportunities to leverage municipal dollars with provincial and federal funding, private investment and community partnerships. My record reflects that approach. During my previous term on Council, I supported a 2022 budget that included a $20,000 annual agreement with Creative Industries to establish a sustainable micro-granting program for local arts organizations and collectives. At the same time, I have not believed that every funding request should automatically be approved, particularly in this economic climate. The question should always be: what public investment will produce the greatest benefit for North Bay?

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2. Arts, culture and events should be an important part of North Bay's downtown strategy. A successful downtown needs people coming there for more than shopping. It needs reasons to stay, spend money and come back. Festivals, concerts, galleries, markets, public art, cultural events and creative businesses can all contribute to that.

I would like to see the City make it easier for organizations and entrepreneurs to put on events downtown by reducing unnecessary red tape, coordinating City services more effectively and making better use of existing public spaces and facilities. I have previously advocated for making greater use of municipal facilities for concerts, conventions and other activities. I also believe our downtown, waterfront and cultural facilities should be considered together rather than as separate initiatives.

The City's role should be to create the conditions for people to make things happen — then get out of the way where we can. That means working with Creative Industries, the Downtown Improvement Area, the Capitol Centre, Tourism North Bay and local businesses on a coordinated calendar of events and experiences that brings people downtown throughout the year.

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3. North Bay needs to compete for people as well as businesses. When I talk about economic development, I don't just mean attracting another employer to build a facility here. We need to create a community where people who have choices about where they live decide that North Bay is a place where they can build a life. Arts, culture, recreation, education, restaurants, festivals, live music and other community amenities all contribute to that decision.

My experience working with organizations such as AMO and ROMA has reinforced for me that smaller communities cannot compete with larger cities by trying to become smaller versions of Toronto, Ottawa or Sudbury. We need to build on what makes North Bay different. That includes our natural environment, our waterfront, our post-secondary institutions, our history and heritage — and our creative community.

I would like to see the City work more closely with Canadore and Nipissing to connect students and graduates with local creative businesses and entrepreneurs. We should also look at opportunities to support affordable creative workspaces, local production, festivals and events that bring visitors into the community.

Ultimately, the goal is economic growth. More people living and working here means more customers for local businesses, more activity downtown, more investment and, over time, a stronger municipal tax base. I believe we can support arts and culture while still being responsible with taxpayers' money. The two objectives are not in conflict. The challenge for Council is to make smart investments, measure the results and focus on initiatives that help North Bay grow.

That is the approach I would bring to Council.
Over my 18 years on Council, including my time as Deputy Mayor, Budget Chief, and Chair of Engineering and Public Works, I’ve always understood that arts and culture are an important part of our local economy. At the same time, as a former Budget Chief, I’ve had to make tough decisions. When Council hesitates on funding requests, it’s not because we don't value the arts, it’s because we already provide significant annual operating funding to major cultural anchors like the Capitol Centre, and we have a duty to manage taxpayer dollars responsibly. What would be beneficial for Council needs moving forward is clear, collaborative guidance from the arts and culture sector on how much funding is actually needed, where the gaps are, and how those dollars should be distributed fairly across the entire community.

1. We need to treat arts and culture like the economic driver it is. Seeing an $18 return for every $1 of municipal investment through Creative Industries proves that seed funding pays off when targeted properly.

My focus is on collaborative guidance and leveraging existing dollars effectively:

Council needs the arts and culture sector, working together through groups like Creative Industries, the Capitol Centre, and local arts organizations, to give us unified advice. We need clear guidance on what level of funding is required and where it will have the greatest impact so Council isn't forced to guess or choose between competing asks.

We already have strong, positive working relationships among key community players, including Tourism North Bay, the DIA, the Capitol Centre, and Creative Industries. Continuing this collaborative approach ensures we pool resources, maximize Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) dollars, and leverage joint funding rather than submitting duplicate requests to the City.

Using our Growth Community Improvement Plan to help small creative businesses, studios, and venues access matching grants to fix up downtown properties and build out spaces.

We can explore using a portion of the City’s OLG casino host revenues to support local community and cultural initiatives. But having managed municipal budgets, I know casino revenues fluctuate, we must remain cautious so we don't lock taxpayers into long-term operational commitments we can't sustain if revenues dip.

Every dollar we leverage locally allows community groups to apply for matching provincial and federal grants (NOHFC, FedNor, Trillium). If we don't provide that local match, those upper-government tax dollars leave North Bay for Sudbury or Sault Ste. Marie.

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2. I’ve always said that a healthy downtown is a safe downtown. The best way to make Main Street safer and more welcoming isn't just talking about security, it’s getting people downtown. The more families, shoppers, and visitors we have on the sidewalk, the better it is for everyone.

We know this model works because we see it in action every time:

Look at the crowds Bay Block Party draws.

Look at the foot traffic generated by the Christmas Market at the Museum in Jack Burrows Parkette.

Look at how Gallery Hops bring people into local shops and galleries on a Friday night.

I want to see an even stronger operational partnership between the DIA and Creative Industries. The DIA understands business retention and the physical streetscape, while Creative Industries brings the artists, musicians, and sector expertise. When the City actively supports these working relationships, we get more street markets, live music, and outdoor events that keep downtown busy, vibrant, and safe.

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3. When people move to a community, whether they’re doctors, nurses, tradespeople, or young families, they aren’t just looking for a job and a roof over their head. They are choosing a lifestyle. They want things to do on the weekend, live music, local events, and a community that feels alive.

Our arts sector is one of our best recruitment tools, and I know this from personal experience:

When I was Deputy Mayor, I was asked to speak to prospective doctor recruits during hospital recruitment visits. While I'm not entirely sure what the current formal process looks like today for welcoming new doctor recruits, I know what worked when I was at the table I pulled out my phone and showed them the Creative Industries site to highlight everything happening in our community. That quality-of-life pitch matters when professionals are deciding between North Bay and another city.

We need clear pathways for students graduating from Canadore and Nipissing to build careers right here in local media, production, and digital design instead of moving away.

Every new family or business we attract by offering a high quality of life helps broaden our tax base, which lightens the burden on existing property taxpayers.

No response from: Jordaan Allison, Dave Dale, Rahul Dass, TJ Finch, Myles Heneberry, Sara Inch, Mark King, Nathaniel Lachance, Matthew Lachowski, Glen Langlois, Chris Mayne, Lana Mitchell, Terry Parolin, Louise Poitras, & Randall Tilander.