Thunder Bay: Doane Grant Thornton helps business leaders make a vibrant community

THUNDER BAY — What role can local businesses play in building a better city? 

Accounting firm Doane Grant Thornton spent the last few months asking members of the local business community how they can improve Thunder Bay. On Wednesday, they dove deep into the answers at their Vibrant Communities event at Fort William Historical Park.

Doane Grant Thornton’s managing partner for northern Ontario business Kim Toskovich said, “we were really purposeful in choosing people that represented different parts of the community so that we could get everybody's perspective. And then, we used all of the interview results so that we could come up with some common themes.”

Toskovich noted that the survey interviews did not ask community members to pick out what was wrong with Thunder Bay specifically but to focus on what works and how to make it better.

Some common themes were written on poster boards for people to look over. The themes ranged from community safety to affordably and sustainability to beautification.

She said that inside the conference room were a variety of business community leaders, CEOs, nonprofit organizations, and charities.

Rosy Brizi, a Thunder Bay partner with Doane Grant Thornton, said that their role as facilitators is to be the catalyst in connecting members of the community.

“It's just about bringing people together and creating that conversation and allowing brainstorming to happen amongst the people in this city that can help move it forward,” she said.

Brizi noted that Doane Grant Thornton would be happy play a part in the business community initiatives that come out the event.

“It's really part of our contribution back to the community in a different way, in a less financial way, but something that we think is really important,” said Brizi.

Glenn Craig, CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, said that a vibrant community means more economic development opportunities for the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre will allow them to create more job opportunities by expanding its programs like the cardiac surgery program.

In turn, the spin-off from those jobs will help other businesses thrive.

“For healthcare philanthropy, when the economy is doing well, when the community is doing well, we're doing well and we want to make sure that we are raising enough funds to improve health care to advance health care,” he said.

President of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, Charla Robinson, said there was a lot of positivity in the room.

“We've got a really supportive community when it comes to supporting local businesses. People like to shop local. They like to support entrepreneurs as they're building their dreams,” she said.

“And that really matters from a business perspective, (Thunder Bay) makes a great place to start a business and to keep a business going because those relationships grow and get very strong when you know the people who own the business and you're shopping with a friend,” she continued.

“So that message has come out really clearly already and we’re looking forward to continuing that discussion,” she added.

Clint Fleury is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Dougall Media in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Title image: Doane Grant Thornton Vibrant Communities event at Fort William Historical Park (Clint Fleury).