Thunder Bay City Hall Invaded by Students

THUNDER BAY – Somedays are more fun than others for Thunder Bay Mayor Hobbs. Today a highlight was a tour of City Hall with the Grade Five class from St. Bernard School. The students, along with teacher Ashleigh Morris enjoyed time today seeing what happens at City Hall.

Mayor Hobbs, sitting down today to share some of the ongoing efforts at City Hall commented that the start of the budgeting process that he is satisfied that Council will get things right. Sitting down at New York Sub in the heart of the Fort William Business Improvement Area, the Mayor shared some of the efforts ongoing in Thunder Bay.

Hobbs states that this Council has invested a great deal of money in infrastructure. Overcoming the “Infrastructure deficit of the past, has taken a real effort,” stated Hobbs.

“Infrastructure concerns top the list for most citizens,” commented the Mayor. “If we don’t spend the money keeping up and repairing infrastructure, where will we be in five or ten years”.

The Mayor has been on a three year learning curve, moving from the police beat to City Hall. He admits that he doesn’t really know how to play politics, and there are times he says what he believes and ignores political ramifications.

That has not dented his popularity.

Chamber of Commerce and City Hall

Hobbs states that he is not going to battle with the Chamber of Commerce. Rather the Mayor is looking to have the facts out there on the budgeting and spending programs at City Hall.

Thunder Bay and Fort William First Nation

The Mayor is also pleased with the direction that Thunder Bay continues to go with growing the relationship with Fort William First Nation and the Aboriginal community in our city. One of the Mayor’s goals is having the Fort William First Nation flag flying out front of City Hall. “We are on the traditional territories of the Fort William First Nation and the Robertson Superior Treaty,” commented the Mayor.

When asked how come he had not mentioned that, as he usually does in public speeches at the announcement of a partner for the new event centre, Hobbs commented that “Maybe I was just a little excited”.

Thunder Bay has continued to forge a very solid and mutually beneficial relationship with Fort William First Nation.

A Safer Thunder Bay

Hobbs is determined to continue the process of making Thunder Bay a safer city. “Our violent crime index has dropped,” he states. Hobbs admits that there are many people who are still worried about crime, and there is work to do.

Heading back to City Hall, walking along Brodie Street, Mayor Hobbs was stopped by a young man. The two knew each other. Hobbs had once arrested him. The man said that if it had not been for Hobbs arresting him, and taking the time to care what happened to him, he would be in rough shape today.

Its not often one gets to see a former police officer thanked by a person who he arrested. One of the contrasts offered with Mayor Hobbs in Thunder Bay.