Presenting to Council

At the City of Kenora, we encourage community engagement with local politics and invite you to attend an upcoming Council or Committee of the Whole meeting. If you would like to speak before Council or committee, you will need to submit a deputation request. Your group or organization may also consider a proclamation request.

Find our Council meeting calendar

Deputation request

Please complete a Deputation Request online. You may also print and submit it by email to the City Clerk. If you are using materials in your presentation, such as PowerPoint slides or handouts, you must submit the materials in advance of the meeting.

If you want to present before a Committee of the Whole meeting, you must submit your request at least seven days in advance of the meeting.

If you want to present to Council, you need to submit your request by 10 a.m. on the day of the meeting .

Please note that all presentations are live streamed and information on and attached to the request form may be made available to the public.

Presentation rules and etiquette

While presenting, you must follow these rules:

you'll have five minutes to present at the start of a Council or 15 minutes at a Committee of the Whole meeting
if more than one person is part of the delegation, you'll need to appoint one spokesperson
state your name before you begin speaking
all phones must be turned off or set on vibrate during the meeting
only begin speaking once you've been introduced by the Head of Council or Chairperson
you can only speak on the topic outlined in your Deputation Request

The following actions are not tolerated:

speaking disrespectfully to anyone
using offensive word or gestures or making abusive comments
disobeying the rules and procedures or a decision of Council

Frequently asked questions

How do I request to speak at a meeting?

You may request to speak at a Council meeting, Committee of the Whole meeting or another Committee of Council by completing the online Deputation Request form.

You need to submit your Deputation Request at least seven days in advance.

You are required to submit your presentation materials with your request.

Scheduling your presentation will be at the discretion of the Clerk and will be confirmed by the last business day before the meeting.

There are no guarantees that by requesting a certain date your deputation will be accepted, as prior commitments may make it necessary to schedule an alternate date suggested by the Clerk.

How long may I speak?

The City's Procedural By-law limits all deputations to a maximum of five minutes for Council meetings and 15 minutes for Committee of the Whole.

Can I attend more than one meeting on the same topic?

You may appear before Council or Committee, but not both regarding the same matter.

What is the procedure?

You will speak a the beginning of the meeting. If you are attending a Council meeting, you will have five minutes. If you are attending a Committee of the Whole or other Committee of Council meeting, you will have 15 minutes for your presentation.

Only begin speaking once the Head of Council or Chairperson has introduced you.
Before you begin speaking, please state your name and the organization you represent, if applicable.
Direct all comments to and through the Head of Council/Chairperson.
You can only speak on the topic outlined in your Deputation Request.
Only one person may speak on the topic outlined in your Deputation Request.
The Head of Council/Chairperson can ask any person who speaks disrespectfully, uses offensive words or gestures, makes abusive comments, or disobeys the rules and procedures or a decision of Council to leave the meeting.
At the end of your presentation, there may be questions or comments from Council or Committee members. All questions or comments are directed through the Head of Council/Chairperson.
Upon completing your deputation, you may leave the meeting or remain seated in the gallery until an appropriate time to exit.
If you attend by Zoom at the end of your deputation, you will be removed from the Zoom online meeting and directed to continue listening to the meeting via the live stream link.

What is the meeting schedule for Council?

The Committee of the Whole meeting is on the second Tuesday of the month at 9:00 a.m.

The Council meeting is on the third Tuesday of the month at 5:00 p.m.

You can view the meeting calendar on the Agenda and Minutes page.

Meetings take place at City Hall, Council Chambers, One Main Street South, Kenora, ON. If you plan to attend in person, please use the front north entrance by train tracks (ramp) to access Council Chambers.

Can anyone see my deputation?

The meetings are open to the public and live streamed. The information on the Deputation Request form and the presentation materials are available to the public.

What happens after my deputation?

At the end of your presentation, there may be questions or comments from Council or Committee members for you to respond. You may respond to provide further information or answer their questions. You must direct all remarks through the Head of Council/Chairperson. Respectful decorum is expected from everyone in the meeting.

Upon completing your deputation, you may leave the meeting or remain seated in the gallery until an appropriate time to exit.

If you attend by Zoom at the end of your deputation, you will be removed from the Zoom online meeting and directed to continue listening to the meeting on the Zoom link.

What is the difference between Committee of the Whole and Council?

At the Committee of the Whole meeting, members of Council discuss agenda items in detail and ask questions of City staff to understand the issue and to make an informed decision. Reports from the Committee of the Whole, are brought forward to the Council meeting and then it is at the Council meeting that members vote and make final decisions. Both meetings are open to the public.

How can I contact Members of Council?

You can find contact information for members of Council on our Contact Us page or Councillors page.