With municipal election day just a week away, Thunder Bay residents have another chance to meet the people asking for their votes in an informal setting.
Open-floor event aims to put voters first
An open meet-and-greet hosted by local businesses Bay Village Coffee and Half-Way Motors will take place on Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Half-Way Motors Nissan showroom on Memorial Avenue. Organizers say they have invited all 10 mayoral candidates and the 14 candidates running for council’s at-large seats to attend.
Rather than a formal debate, the gathering has been described as a chance for residents to speak one-on-one with candidates. The showroom layout will have candidates stationed throughout the space so people can drop in and ask questions on issues that matter to them.
“People don’t need another speech. They want to talk. Last week at the shop, neighbours stood and talked with candidates one to one, and the only complaint I heard was from people who hadn’t known it was happening. This is everybody’s chance. Come ask your questions — about safety, about housing, about whatever matters to you — and vote knowing a little more.”
The comment was provided by Alan Forbes, owner of Bay Village Coffee, one of the event organisers. The meet-and-greet follows a candidates’ night held at Bay Village Coffee on Oct. 13, which organisers reported drew a full house.
Context: a cancelled forum and a crowded race
Organisers said the event was arranged after the scheduled mayoral forum at the Thunder Bay Public Library was cancelled during the library workers’ strike. That cancelled forum had been the only planned occasion for many voters to meet several candidates at once, they noted.
The contest for council’s at-large seats is one of the most competitive on the ballot, with 14 people vying for five positions. All Thunder Bay voters may cast ballots for up to five at-large candidates.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday (one week before Oct. 26 election day) |
| Time | 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| Location | Half-Way Motors Nissan, Memorial Avenue |
| Invited candidates | 10 mayoral, 14 at-large |
| Admission | Free and open to the public |
What voters can expect and why it matters
Organisers emphasise the event will be informal: no speeches and no stage. Instead, residents can approach candidates directly to raise concerns or evaluate platforms in an unscripted environment.
That format suits voters who want to discuss practical issues rather than listen to prepared remarks. With municipal matters such as public safety, housing and local services often shaping daily life, the chance to question candidates directly may influence voter decisions in the final days before balloting opens city-wide.
- Ask about public safety measures and policing supports.
- Discuss housing and shelter policy, including recent temporary shelter initiatives.
- Clarify candidates’ positions on local infrastructure and development incentives.
Voting was already open ahead of election day on Oct. 26. The meet-and-greet offers an additional opportunity for residents to gather information on multiple candidates in one visit, organisers say.
For many voters, particularly in a city where urban concerns intersect with broader regional and provincial issues, direct conversations with candidates provide a practical way to weigh how prospective councillors and a mayor would address local priorities. The informal nature of the event is intended to lower barriers to engagement and encourage constructive dialogue in a campaign season that has included both scheduled forums and last-minute changes to the calendar.
Organisers thanked Half-Way Motors for providing the space needed to host what they hope will be a well-attended session, and reiterated that the public is welcome to drop in at any time during the two-and-a-half hour window.
