Proud to live in Thunder Bay
A Review of the City of Thunder Bay Draft Corporate Strategic
Plan by SHIFT - Thunder Bay’s Young Professionals Network
Members of City Council, we appreciate the
opportunity to submit to you our Public Review,
in respect to the 2015-2018 City of Thunder Bay’s
Corporate Strategic Plan. As history has revealed,
we need to learn from our past, understand our
present, and think towards our future. Together,
we need to develop a guiding document where we
start at the core with trust; where tradition, quality,
and leadership pave the path for exceptional
community goals.
SHIFT - Thunder Bay’s Young Professional
Network is a not-for-profit organization that
strives to bring together like-minded individuals
in a motivated, respectful, and progressive
environment. We engage our peers from 19-40
years of age, representing many professions and
backgrounds. From business owners, entrepreneurs
and trades people, to students, health specialists
and government employees, the diversity within
our organization allows for creative ideas, actions
and outcomes that start with collaborative
efforts. Every SHIFTer shares a common value that
we believe in what's next for Thunder Bay and we
want to help drive the community forward.
With a vision to retain and attract young
professionals in the city of Thunder Bay and
through membership review, SHIFT recognizes
the importance of “civic pride” in a community
and suggests that it needs to be a focus in and
throughout the Strategic Plan. Ultimately, it is
people who are at the heart of a vibrant, dynamic
city. Encouraging civic pride in our community is
essential for achieving the quality of life desired by
residents, and results in individual responsibility,
community improvement and self-sufficiency. Civic
pride must be nurtured to the point that it becomes
so contagious that those who witness it, are
compelled to follow suit adding to the momentum.
While civic pride is mentioned once in the 2015-2018
City of Thunder Bay’s Corporate Strategic Plan,
the relative “actions” do not reflect the initiatives
required to foster this in our community. We believe
that civic pride must be a three-prong approach;
first with the Corporation, second with private
business, and third with citizens.
The City of Thunder Bay needs to lead by example
and communicate in a more effective manner as to
why Thunder Bay is the best city to live in with its
current residents. We often focus on celebrating our
community through our tourism efforts, but rarely
provide our current residents with the information
and excitement to make them our own ambassadors
of the city. This can be achieved through many local
initiatives to reach the community by focusing and
implementing the following actions:
Government
Rebrand the City of Thunder Bay to target
millennials with an emphasis on healthy/
happy/quality lifestyle - highlighting energy,
purpose, unity
Business
Recognizing/accepting beautification
projects, providing business development
incentives for cores, encourage best practices,
embracing positive image
Individual
Litter control, tree planting incentives,
grassroots civic pride, curb appeal incentives,
community & neighbourhood interaction
SHIFT recognizes the importance of including young professionals in the development of civic pride. Young
professionals are the long-term tax-paying market, which the City should be targeting to attract and retain.
This generation of young professionals are also considered as the true entrepreneurial generation with
67% seeking to start their own business. In this Draft Strategic Plan, the term “child” is mentioned two
times, “young” is not mentioned, and “youth” is mentioned two times. This plan does not recognize Young
Professionals as an important contributing component of the future of this city.
Under the SHIFT Strategic Pillars of Social, Community, Personal Development, Business & Economy, and
Environment under the “Civic Pride” lense, we suggest the following :
Social
(Section 1.4, 15, 15.2)
Influence a healthier lifestyle by establishing quality; starting internally. As residents of Thunder Bay,
we need to care for our city once again. We need to hold a higher level of satisfaction and maintain our
community in order to attract newcomers.
Community
(Section 3.2)
Strengthen our neighbourhoods by increasing the level of social interaction. It’s a great way to build
awareness of the importance of creating a more people oriented city.
Personal Development
(Section 2.3, 19.1, 21)
Civic pride unleashes respect and embraces differences in culture. The want to learn and understand
traditions sets the stage for acceptance-this is the root for change.
Business & Economy
(Section 1.4, 2.3, 12.1, 12.4)
Directing investment into our city through the use of vacant land in the downtown core to encourage
urban infill. Local businesses and organizations need to embrace best practices by encouraging beauty
and green at their store fronts. We have a desire for energy in these vibrant locations. We want to
maintain heritage through restoration but keep it relevant through urbanization and modernization.
Environment
(Section 7.0, 7.4, 7.6)
Humans seek instant gratification. Beauty is our neighbourhoods desired image; however, it is easily lost
when the attempt is underappreciated. We not only need to encourage green spaces, landscaping, and
walkability; we also need to acknowledge the ecological impacts.
Council’s message in this Strategic Plan is to achieve a Healthy,
Vibrant, Connected, and Strong Thunder Bay. If this is the case,
it’s time to SHIFT the direction.
T: (807) 624-2628
F: (807) 622-7752
E: info@shiftnetwork.ca
shiftnetwork.ca