Jamie Lowery kicked off his campaign run for city council at the waterfront Saturday afternoon, promising to improve transparency and access to
City Hall.
"He is determined to listen to the community and support issues that mean the most to his fellow residents," says a news release.
The campaign will be"growth-focused on citizens’ needs, sustainability, and serving seniors."
About 90 supporters joined Lowery for a family-style picnic with live music at the Kiwanis Bandshell.
“This is the perfect spot for this,” Lowery said. “A clear vision and a lot of hard work and perseverance went into transforming this once derelict stretch of Lake Nipissing shoreline into this jewel. It’s now a real people place with the potential for even greater things.
“If I get a seat at the council table, I hope to build on this foundation. I’ll work hard to revamp other areas of our city, especially our downtown.”
Lowery, 59, is presently the Cassellholme CEO.
“To serve as a councillor, the thing to remember is that you’re not there for yourself. You’re there for the community – to support them,” said Lowery.
“You’re there to listen and to help people work with the City. It takes courage to take this approach. It’s not always the popular and definitely not the easier thing to do.”
A pledge of transparency would be a major change for the present mayor and council that has built a reputation of extreme secrecy, and instructing city staff not to answer citizens' questions, but to file Freedom of Information requests. During the council's term, North Bay was named the most secretive municipal government in Canada.
See: An embarrassing win! North Bay most secretive municipal government in Canada says journalist's group
"Lowery certainly knows what it’s like to champion a cause at the risk of his own popularity," says the release. "As Cassellholme CEO, he found himself in the crosshairs of a contentious redevelopment process. Construction on the new district long-term care home finally began in March."
After eight years, Lowery is retiring in September.
His professional career spans 31 years in the private and public sector. He was Commissioner of Community Services with the City of Brampton, Manager of Parks Construction and Maintenance with the Town of Markham, and Senior Project Manager with consulting engineering firm Marshall Macklin Monaghan.
In 1987, he met his wife Sandra, who was born and raised in North Bay. Over the next 30-plus years, they often visited family here with their five children.
“We enjoyed summers on the beaches, the Heritage Festivals, trail walks at Thanksgiving, and the downtown lights at Christmas. The people and the events, it felt like home.”
In 2015, they moved to North Bay. Last year, Lowery became a grandfather with the birth of his first two grandchildren.
Lowery a founding co-chair of the Nipissing Wellness Ontario Health Team, coaches girls’ hockey, served on a waterfront committee and helps with fundraising efforts for many local charities and organizations.
“As a councillor, what I really look forward to, is helping people understand the workings of the City and being able to connect the dots when it comes to strategy,” he said. “Being able to help people understand the bigger picture, why and how certain decisions are made, and the debate that goes along with this is important. That is how we create transparency.”
He intends to take the next 120-plus days before the Oct. 24 vote to meet with people and hear about their ideas and priorities.
“It’s by listening to people that the best ideas emerge,” he said. “This is your city, your community. Together, we will make sure it is working – for you, for our kids and our seniors – for all of us.
“I am in your corner,” Lowery said. “A vote for me, is a vote for a candidate who will advocate on the issues that matter to you.”
