Staff
The Township of La Vallee will host local municipal leaders tomorrow for the 21st-annual general meeting and conference of the Rainy River District Municipal Association.
Delegates from as far away as Atikokan will gather at the Devlin Hall to discuss issues that affect communities across the district.
The day will begin with RRDMA business, which will include the treasurer’s report for 2011, the Northern Ontario Municipal Association’s levy payment, district-wide strategic planning, resolutions for NOMA, and elections.
“We’ll have business arising probably regarding physician recruitment and retention in the area,” noted Rainy River Mayor Deb Ewald, who also serves as president of the RRDMA, adding she believes it is an item on people’s minds.
“It’s a pretty big issue right now,” she stressed.
After the business portion of the meeting, several speakers are scheduled to address the delegates during the rest of the day.
They include Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty, Geoff Gillon of the Rainy River Future Development Corp., Greg Chapman and Rachel Hill (Ministry of Natural Resources), Dr. Jim Arthurs and Mark Perrault (Northwestern Health Unit), and Jessica Auger-Beaulieau and Sylvie Oulton (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing).
Rounding out the scheduled speakers are Ian Smith (Ministry of Transportation), Jane Gillon (Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry), Patricia Forrest (Regional Economic Development Pilot Project), Dan McCormick (Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board), and Peggy Loyie (Safe Communities Rainy River District/Celebrating Diversity Committee).
All will be given about 20 minutes to give a presentation, and they may take questions from the delegates if time permits.
