North Bay Police ending service in Callander at the end of the year

The North Bay Police Board has announced it will not renew the Service's policing agreement with the community of Callander. 

The North Bay Police were due to look at a proposed new contract presentation by Callander City Council before October 2021.  

"The North Bay Police Services Board has announced that it will not be renewing the Policing Agreement with the Municipality of Callander," a release from the Board stated.  

"The most recent 10-year contract expired in April 2021, however policing services continued to be provided to Callander on a month-to-month basis while a new contract was in development. Members of the North Bay Police Service, Callander staff, and representatives of Callander Council commenced meetings in December 2020 and continued meeting through 2021 to develop a framework for a new Policing Agreement.

"An August 2021 Callander Staff Report to Council showed that the North Bay Police Service provided the municipality with fair value for policing services and outlined discussions held with the Ontario Provincial Police regarding their billing model and approach to policing," the release continued.  

See: Callander investigates contract with North Bay Police Service. May opt for OPP

Callander councillor Jordy Carr and Mayor Robb Noon planned to meet with the OPP to “determine whether it would be in the Municipality’s best interest” to request a quote for policing services, explained senior municipal director, Ashley Bilodeau, in her report to Callander council.

The North Bay Police Board recommended that representatives of the Municipality of Callander engage in further discussions with the OPP regarding the provision of policing services.

“The North Bay Police Service has been proud to serve the people of Callander for the last 16 years and believe we have provided an excellent service at a fair value,” said Dennis O’Connor, Chair of the North Bay Police Services Board.

“Over the last year, the North Bay Police Service and the North Bay Police Services Board have worked closely with the Municipality of Callander in developing a Made-for-Callander plan for policing the municipality. However, we have decided that at this time, we will focus our resources on community safety and policing within the limits of the City of North Bay.”

The Chair of the Police Board is holding a media conference at North Bay Police Headquarters Thursday morning to address the issue further.  

The North Bay Police Service will continue to provide policing services to the Municipality of Callander until December 31, 2021.