City sets sights on hosting several conferences to help 'showcase North Bay and stimulate hospitality'

The City of North Bay will apply to host the annual conferences of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

North Bay is also hosting this year's event from May 9–11 after the 2021 conference was held in an online setting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Coun. Johanne Brousseau tabled the motion and stressed the conferences are opportunities to showcase North Bay to provincial and other officials of northern municipalities — and are covered by national media.

There is an economic spin-off involved as the three-day conferences routinely attract more than 250 delegates and exhibitors and represent an opportunity to stimulate the hospitality industry with some 500 hotel stays, according to the motion. This year's conference includes visits to the Cascades Casino and Capitol Centre.

North Bay City Council unanimously passed a motion during Tuesday's regular meeting directing staff to apply to bring the FONOM conferences to North Bay during the first or second week of May for some combination of the next three years. Coun. Mac Bain is FONOM's executive director and declared a conflict of interest.

Coun. Chris Mayne seconded the motion and offered, "One of the most important things we do as councillors is to try to attract new business, conventions, conferences — anything that is an economic benefit to the community." 

If there is a preference to host even one of those years it is clear the 2025 edition — coinciding with the year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the City's incorporation — is the preferred choice but Brousseau says the City will apply in consecutive years to increase its exposure.

Noting many provincial ministers attend the conferences, Brousseau observed there is not a "better way to advocate for a northern cause than to have these elected officials right at our doorstep." 

Three of the four provincial party leaders are scheduled to participate in a northern leaders' debate at this year's event.

FONOM represents 110 municipalities from across northeastern Ontario and works to better municipal government in Northern Ontario and improve legislation respecting local government in the North.