Departments and Programs

Parks, Recreation and Leisure Services 

• Council approved Arts, Heritage Cultural Policy
• Collaboration with Planning Services to support the Municipal Heritage Committee to identify, and recognize significant historical sites in the City including Heritage Register and Designation, heritage plaque program and interpretive signs. Creates and promotes walking tour routes linking these sites.
• Staff support to the Coordinating Body of Arts, Culture and Heritage (CBACH)
  • Department is ex-officio board member and supports the group in their initiatives, provides office space and an annual grant to support operations through the Leisure Development Program fund.
• Facilitation of community events through Event Facilitator – Community Events: Canada Day, Summer in the Park, Santa Claus Parade, Families First
• Website Calendar of Events
• Support and provision of space for Sport Hall of Fame at Memorial Gardens
• Community Programming for Youth:
  • Through Youth Centres, After School Program, Youth Week initiatives. (2010 – Photo Voice, 2011 – Culinary Arts Cooking  Program) These include introduction to Arts, Heritage and Culture Programs.
• Coordination of the publishing of the Community Leisure Brochure, two times per year, space offered to community groups on a cost recovery basis
• Maintenance and programming of City Parks, beaches and sports facilities; many with historic significance (Champlain, Lavase, Sunset, Waterfront, Leger Square etc.)
  • Ongoing interaction with Parks and Recreation Dept. on community events.
• Agreement with Chamber of Commerce to operate Quints Museum.
• Capitol Centre:
  • Funding and support for the Capitol Centre as an anchoring arts and cultural facility – support in the development programming where possible.
  • Exploring opportunities to engage Capitol Centre with media contacts and clients.
• First Nations Inclusion:
  • Liaison with First Nations to support native heritage / cultural events and economic development initiatives.
  • Developing tourism products with native community; implementation / promotion in 2011

Economic Development Department

The Economic Development Department assists existing businesses, prospective investors and community partners with business and community development projects.

-   Community Development;

-   Site searches and tours;

-   Sale/lease of municipally-owned land;

-   Market analysis;

-   Public funding application assistance;

-   Financial structuring and related business attraction;

-   Business retention and expansion assistance;

-   Support for company export initiatives; and

-   Liaise with Provincial and Federal governments to support business and facilitate market development and trade opportunities.

Together with the Regional Small Business Enterprise Centre and the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) Office, the Economic Development Office provides additional guidance and support related to unique client needs. 

 The Economic Development Department works with various industry groups and delivers specific programming for Film & Television Projects which include:

-   Film & TV Production Guidebook to filming in North Bay

-   Streamlining all necessary municipal permits and approvals through an established Project Review Team which includes representatives from relevant municipal departments

-   Assisting with Preliminary location scouting

-   Facilitating local contacts

-   Liaison with community partners

-   Assisting with public funding applications

-   Promoting North Bay and region as a film destination including hosting producers, location managers and regional familiarization tours

-   Creation and maintenance of public resource portal of locations, talent and services to support film projects

-   Working with industry associations and promoters to help build northern film production capacity

Development of North Bay tourism:

• Ongoing maintenance of tourism portal.
• First Nations, new Canadian, and international journalists’ tourism marketing initiatives.
• Working with regional stakeholders on development of ‘touring’ product.
• Promoting / marketing of community attractions offering to groups, events/conferences.
• Further development of collaboration with Parks and Recreation Department on supporting events to attract tourists

• Support for North Bay Immigration Strategy and Newcomers Network
• North Bay Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy
• Various programs to support small and medium size enterprises (SME’s), including creative cultural industries

Planning Services

Staff support to the Municipal Heritage Committee in identifying & recognizing heritage buildings and facilities

• The Downtown Community Improvement Plan (DCIP) provides a series of City-funded incentive programs designed to stimulate private-sector investment in the Downtown.
  • The DIA concentrates on tourism, business retention and expansion, and promotions. Festivals and special events are held at various times throughout the year in an effort to increase traffic levels, enhance the profile of the downtown and strengthen investor confidence in the downtown core, including façade improvement
• Strong recognition zoning permitted use to accommodate home-based businesses
• Official Plan Policy:
  • Downtown as Arts/Entertainment District and Mixed use area (retail, service, residential, office, cultural, entertainment, institutional and administrative functions)
  • Heritage & Archaeological Resources
  • Waterfront, Escarpment, Natural Heritage features
  • Trails & Active Transportation
• GAP Officer – funding applications for cultural program, community groups, municipal initiative