What’s your vision for the future of Bracebridge?

Will it be a cleaner and greener economy, racetracks and casinos, or more affordable housing?

Those were just a few of the ideas batted around during the opening session of the town’s community-based strategic planning project, held Monday afternoon at the Rotary Centre for Youth.

Earlier in the day, the town held a press conference at Bracebridge Sportsplex to unveil the project, which has been dubbed “Convergence: creating a community vision for Bracebridge”.

The project is expected to have two major outcomes. The first is the creation of a community-based strategic plan, which will be used to establish annual priorities for the town. The second is the creation of a community adjustment plan to outline ways to create and sustain employment opportunities and diversify the local economy.

“To quote Bob Dylan, ‘the times they are a changing’,” said Mayor Don Coates during the press conference, which was held above the bustling foyer at the sportsplex. “In essence, this will serve as an action plan for the future of Bracebridge.”

Local residents often feel they are kept out of the information loop until after a decision has been made, said Coates. As such, every segment of the community needs to make their opinion count during this process.

“We’re looking for huge community involvement,” said Coates.

To that end, the town has created a new website, www.bracebridgevision.ca, where members of the public can fill out a survey and voice their opinion on what needs to change and where the town should be headed. A public meeting is also slated for June 4 at Bracebridge Sportsplex, where input from the community will be collected and compiled.

If the initial session is any indication, there will be no shortage of suggestions for change.

Two-dozen members of senior town staff, council and the town’s community adjustment team attended the meeting, which was hosted by Miller, Dickinson, Blais Inc. and the Queen’s Executive Decision Centre, which are facilitating the overall process.

Those in attendance were asked what direction Bracebridge should be headed in, and they came up with 100 suggestions in just a few minutes.

The ideas were wide-ranging and included reduced taxes, a downtown parking garage, a casino and a twin pad arena.

The suggestions were then voted on, with the top vote-getters being the transformation of Bracebridge into a well-established university/college town, more affordable housing, a vibrant and diverse downtown, creating a sustainable and environmentally sound community, and improving local health care.

Another priority was the acquisition of Northern Buildall on Entrance Drive for use as a waterfront park or commercial area.

CAO John Sisson has been working on the strategic plan since assuming his role with the town last spring.He said the goal of the process is to build a sustainable community.

“A sustainable community is one that brings together the community’s environmental, cultural, social and economic goals and objectives in a co-ordinated long-term plan,” he said. “Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work, both now and in the future.”

The public input stage of the project will conclude on June 11. Once the information has been compiled, a draft plan will be presented during a public open house in September, with the finalized plan to be created shortly thereafter.