THUNDER BAY – EDITORIAL – The future of Thunder Bay depends on the youth. We hear those words over and over again. Our community has a population that has in real numbers as measured by the Census remained fairly static. There are about 109,000 people in Thunder Bay, a number that has remained for almost a quarter of a century.
Moving our city forward means encouraging and assisting young professionals into staying in the city, and it means doing things that encourage young professionals to return to our city.
The SHIFT Network has come under fire this week because there is going to be an advance poll at an upcoming SHIFT Event.
The event that will attract about 130 attendees, and offer them the opportunity to vote in the advance poll has some apparently concerned.
Voter turnout in the civic election four years ago was at about forty per cent. The City is doing a number of positive efforts to boost that figure.
It appears the concern is over fears that SHIFT voters are supporting the Event Centre. There are also fears that because Shelby Ch’ng who is running in Northwood is a member of SHIFT this event might generate some extra votes.
The term “First World Problems” comes to mind.
Getting youth more engaged in our city is a key and critical step to moving our city forward. Thunder Bay should be embracing all efforts possible that engage younger voters and young professionals to engage in our city and its future.
If anyone thinks that having an advance poll at the SHIFT event is going to, for lack of a better word, shift the 2014 Civic Election, likely they are completely wrong. The people attending the SHIFT event are likely to be voting no matter what.
Getting more exposure on the importance of voting is important.
The ‘Tempest in a Teapot” over this event is something that might be a demonstration of “Old” Thunder Bay not understanding the “Emerging Thunder Bay” and even of the importance of the young professionals in our city.
James Murray
