THUNDER BAY – Anyone could have seen it coming. As social media continues to grow in Thunder Bay and as people have used Twitter and Facebook to communicate, concerned residents worried about our city have started gathering together. The growing power of social media is changing our world. Open and speedy communications are making a major difference, and as is the normal process, often those in positions of power are slower to realize the speed of change. Concerned Citizens of Thunder Bay have formed on Facebook.
One of the posters on the wall stated, ” This is like a telethon and we’re raising hope. Which I always wondered why they said that was a bad thing. Hope is what you need at the start of any challenge”.
On Saturday night on Facebook, the group doubled in size twice.
The following are the minutes from the planning session:
“Our first open public meeting will take place on:
Date: Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011
Time: 7:00-9:00 pm
Location: Mary J.L. Black Library
The goal of this public forum will be to come up with concrete solutions to the following issues that have been most expressed by the community in no particular order:
1. Policing
2. Community Inclusion
3. Mental Health Support
4. Addictions Strategy
Everyone is encouraged to attend.
All members of the community will have the opportunity to come forward with questions/comments/concerns/suggestions/solutions. If there are any issues that we don’t get to touch on during the meeting, please bring them forward to us. These issues go across all 3 levels of government so we will invite all dignitaries and political figures from our community and outlying areas.
Our Facebook group is open to the public and a Twitter account will be opened as well to encourage community engagement.”
In recent months, many people in our city have expressed concern over how issues are being handled in Thunder Bay. At NetNewsledger.com we have listened to comments from citizens who can’t get a response from City Council to their concerns. Others have expressed concern over crime issues, and the other issues that the Concerned Citizens have raised. Three years out from the next civic election in Thunder Bay, this might be a signal to City Council that not all is well as far as a number of people in our community see it.
Thunder Bay is continuing to move forward as an increasingly online and connected community. In this case, once again it appears that the residents are again leading the elected leaders.
To join the group, visit Concerned Citizens of Thunder Bay on Facebook.