‘Quite a ride’: Georgina holds first post-pandemic, in-person council meeting

Moving forward, hybrid meeting allows for both in-person, virtual participation

Yorkregion.com
May 10, 2023
Amanda Persico

After a couple years of holding up different placards for "yes," "no" and "request to speak," asking to be unmuted and various digital backgrounds, Georgina council meetings are now back in council chambers.

The town is resuming in-person council meeting with a new hybrid model.

“Last time we were all here was March 2020,” said Mayor Margaret Quirk during the first in-person meeting held April 26.

“We were all spread out. It was a very surreal meeting at time. We didn’t know what we were heading into. It was quite a ride. We’re not completely out of it yet, but we’re a lot further along.”

The flexible hybrid model allows town staff, council members and the public the option to participate either in person or virtually.

In 2022 council approved about $356,000 for technology upgrades including microphones and dedicated cameras for members of council as part of the flexible hybrid meeting model.

And all members of council were present during the first in-person meeting since the pandemic started raising hands instead of placards.

“It’s very odd because I have done many meetings in here by myself,” Quirk said. “But its great to be back in person. Instead of looking at a screen, I’ll be looking at real faces.”

There is still the option for residents, consultants, presenters and delegations to "zoom in" and participate virtually.

Council meetings will still be broadcast through the town’s live streaming tool.

And anyone interested in speaking either in-person or virtually is to complete and submit a request to speak form to the clerks department prior to the meeting.

For more information and to download a request to speak form, visit georgina.ca/CouncilMeetings.