Town Halls disappoint, ward system debate needed; local artists honour Broken Forests

Town Hall rules, ward system and political motivations are discussed by co-hosts Dave Dale and Scott Clark in this episode of the Echo Essentials Podcast. Media coverage of a recent City of North Bay outreach event sparks the discussion, that also touches on the issue raised in a recent Letter to the Editor suggesting that city councilors should be required to live within the city limits.CORRECTION NOTE: In the video, Dave Dale said Coun. Mark King was the only elected official residing outside the city limits (he lives in East Ferris, although he has property in North Bay), however, Coun. Gary Gardiner has a similar situation living in the Municipality of Callander (and owns property in North Bay). Both previously resided in North Bay.The featured guest is Dermot Wilson, who manages a regional group that curates opportunities for artistic expression, including participation in the Broken Forests effort to pay attention to the harvesting of wood and its impact around the world. Wilson, along with Nipissing First Nation's Don Chretien, recently returned from Poland and were in British Colombia and South America earlier this year. "This is part of who we are ... so let's get in there and see it," Wilson said, adding that just the effort to go out into the areas being harvested makes an impact on what happens.The Nipissing Regional Curatorial Collective, which also goes by NOVAH (Northern Ontario Visual Artists Hive), has established public galleries at several businesses, including 176 Lakeshore and 222 McIntyre St. East.