Thanks to the speakers, sponsors and everybody who participated in this workshop.

Click Here to View Photos from the Vote For Me Workshop

Original Program

The Lakehead Social Planning Council (LSPC) is hosting an educational forum for prospective candidates on May 13th from 10am to 4pm at the Travelodge Hotel Airlane. This forum is targeted to people across Northwestern Ontario who are considering running for the position of Municipal Councillor, School Board Trustee or to become a member of a Local Service Board. The forum is open to prospective candidates, campaign workers, or persons interested in the local democratic process. The forum speakers will discuss the legislation, financial reporting responsibilities and communication strategies.

The forum is hosted by the LSPC, coordinated by LakeSuperiorOutdoors.com, and sponsored by the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, TBayIT, Leadership Thunder Bay and the Northern Ontario Women's Leadership Forum.

The forum will begin with a session from John Hannam (Clerk, City of Thunder Bay) and Rodney Quarrell (Clerk, Municipality of Neebing) who will be speaking about the legislative requirements and types of voting methods. This section will be completed by Doug Vanderwey of Grant Thornton LLP speaking about candidates’ financial reporting responsibilities.

John Henderson of Brain Box Communications will continue the forum with a session on the process of marketing a successful campaign. John was communications chair for Ken Boschoff’s MP election campaign.

The afternoon continues with Rebecca Johnson (Councillor at Large, City of Thunder Bay) speaking about the role of a Municipal Councillor, what her expectations were and how they match reality.

Rene Larson (Lawyer, Rene Larson Law Offices) will be speaking about the provincial legislation on conflict of interest, limited privilege and libel slander and how it relates to elected officials. The legal section will be completed by Mary Bird (Bird & Thatcher, Baristers and Soliciters) speaking about the freedom of information legislation: how it applies, when it applies, and the obligations required by the legislation. She will also speak about in-camera meetings as they relate to privacy issues. In particular she will describe the very limited circumstances when meetings must be in-camera and the requirement that all other meetings must be public.

The forum will be completed with a media panel discussing the role of media in the election process. Brian Dryden (Managing Editor, The Chronicle Journal), Barry Third (News Director, Thunder Bay Television) and Kathryn Lyzun (Editor, Thunder Bay’s Source) will be present.

During the forum a trade show will be offered for businesses to display their products and services. This forum will be a learning adventure for the future leaders of Northwestern Ontario.