North Bay delegation will appeal to "ex-pats"

An event being dubbed “North Bay in the Six” has been detailed.

At North Bay City Hall on Wednesday, officials say they’ve put out the call for former North Bay residents who live now in the Toronto area to meet with a city delegation at the upcoming Rural Ontario Municipal Conference.

North Bay city councillor Marcus Tignanelli (below) says the idea is to try convince Toronto business people to come back home.

“It kind of gets us in the ear of people that have become business leaders in the GTA and remind them you’re from North Bay and when you want to get a business venture going consider your home town of North Bay,” he says.

One such person who did return is Mark Deacon. (above)

He says North Bay has many benefits.

“If you’re at the point where you want a stable environment for your family, exceptional services and a lifestyle that’s unmatched by anything Toronto can offer then it’s time to come back,” Deacon says.

Tignanelli says they’ve sent out 60 invites to the meeting.

Former premier Mike Harris and Finance Minister Vic Fedeli are scheduled to take part.