Observations from an outsider - The Mayoral Debate and City of Thunder Bay

After attending the YPN mayoral debate on Thursday I made some observations and developed the question I never asked.

THE QUESTION I NEVER ASKED

I will start with a statement, make a two-pronged question, and end with a clarification.

The statement: Thunder Bay is not unique

The question: What will you do to differentiate Thunder Bay from other places and how will you do it?

Clarification: This is not a debate whether Thunder Bay is unique or not. Canada is a beautiful country from east to west, many places with similar challenges and opportunities as Thunder Bay. Our own biases clouds our thinking and we don't understand why others don't see what we see in this city.

OBSERVATION #1: PEOPLE OF THUNDER BAY DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY
Wintertime, people in Thunder Bay hibernate and during the summer, people escape to their camps on the weekends and during the week they don't hesitate to drive back and forth. They live at camp, wake up every morning to the beautiful nature surrounding Thunder Bay. I think therefore, many (older) people of Thunder Bay actually don't see the need for developing an active city centre with arts and culture, a nice city landscape with maintained buildings and green spots. Myself, I'm missing a street with no cars and outdoor cafes, sales racks, artists drawing caricatures and street musicians.

OBSERVATION #2: IT TAKES A WHILE FOR NEWCOMERS TO INVITED IN
For years you have done the same thing, with the same group of friends. When lunch hit on Friday you skip out of work and get in the car to drive to camp, where you meet with your childhood friends that has the camp next to you. Your new colleague is left at work, staying til 5 and with nothing to do on the weekend. I find people in Thunder Bay to be nice, very friendly, but it sure takes time to “break into their lives”, I know, I've been there. I've spoken to others that have been there and we ask the question “What do you do in Thunder Bay?”

OBSERVATION #3: THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES THINKS IT IS BAD THAT YOUNG PEOPLE LEAVE THE CITY
Encourage the kids to leave the city! Have them go out there and get some experience, let them see there is a world outside. However, Thunder Bay should focus on developing a city the youth would want to come back to. One with job opportunities, entrepreneurial support and exciting activities. One with a safe environment for growing a family, with affordable housing, day care and comprehensive health care.