Hub Staff
Experts from around the country are joining organizers and attendees in Owen Sound with an aim to highlight solutions to problems faced by small communities.
The Small Communities Solutions Conference is set for March 29, 2025 at the Harmony Centre beginning at 8:30 a.m. Advance registration is required.
Harmony Centre Board Member and Conference Organizer Leigh Greaves said in a March 10 media release that the variety of solutions will be presented by "forward thinking community members and proven problem solvers" who have first-hand experience putting the solutions into practice.
Greaves said the conference will not only highlight practical, effective solutions that are being implemented in Grey-Bruce right now but also provide proven solutions from other communities for issues that remain unsolved.
"It will be a day of creativity, connection, and hope," said Greaves.
Speakers include Gwen Patrick from The Shorefast Institute in Fogo Island, NL; Lori Pyne from Helping Hands in Squamish, BC; Grey County's CAO Kim Wingrove, Owen Sound Police Chief Craig Ambrose. Also joining the conference are representatives from organizations such as Community Foundation Grey Bruce, the Institute of Southern Georgian Bay and Safe 'N Sound.
A full lineup of speakers is expected later this month.
Experts and concerned citizens alike will have an opportunity to hear directly from front-line specialists who have faced challenges with issues like food insecurity, affordable and emergency housing, public safety, mental health services, and basic income, said Greaves. "It will be an exciting forum featuring a diverse array of ideas, inspiring case studies, and pathways to meaningful change," she said.
The conference is set to take place at the Harmony Centre, 890 4th Avenue East in Owen Sound, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $50 per person or a nominal charge for those who find finances a barrier to attend.
Registration closes March 26 and is available at harmonycentre.ca/scsc.
