The North Bay Bay

From: Darren D. MacDonald, thenorthbaybay.ca

NORTH BAY — NORTH BAY – North Bay is a city of students, old folks and tourism. North Bay only cares about one of these groups. The city sinks a lot of money into tourism, and part of this includes tourism brochures.

Noah McConnell is no stranger to tourism or brochures, which landed him his job with the North Bay tourism board back in the start of 2017. His career started with controversy when he released his first brochure. The cover of the North Bay Tourism Brochure featured a very North Bay activity: ice fishing.

But not on Lake Nipissing. Instead, the ice fishing depicted took place on Big Lake Abitibi near Cochrane Ontario.

“No, it’s not about WHERE it was… I- the pictures…” McConnell fumbles, “Look… It’s not about where the photo is from. It’s the mood the photo captures. It’s a very uniquely North Bay image, okay? Where else can you get skies, ice, and fishing huts?”

People hoped this year would be different. Tuesday’s public release of the new Tourism Brochure brought with it something auspicious. When readers looked past the “North Bay, Ontario Canada” and “Home of Duchesnay Falls” graphic they say a picture.

To the credit of McConnell the picture WAS of a waterfall. But to his DIScredit it was tourist attraction Niagara Falls.

“I don’t think what we did last time was dishonest at all. I don’t think what we did this time is dishonest. You can’t prove that what is on that cover ISN’T Duchesnay Falls.”

“When I moved here and I noticed stuff.  I didn’t see Duchesnay Falls – I saw a waterfall, and what’s a great waterfall? Niagara! I think it would be a disservice if we DIDN’T try to say that our Duchesnay was on par with Niagara Falls.”

“Flat out lie”

While McConnell seems to be fine with the photo choice, some citizens aren’t happy.

“I think it’s a flat out lie. North Bay has beauty everywhere you look, from Duchesnay Falls to the great Shadfly invasion every summer,” says John Greville, local nature photographer. “There is no need to flex and posture and lie about North Bays beauties when every day here is picture perfect.”

“I don’t have to explain myself to this town,” retorts McConnell. “This job is not for everyone.  It’s not for the weak of heart. You have to do things that would make you ‘normies’ on the street sick! You have to sift through shit, literally and figuratively, to get this brochure out!  You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to civilians who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very tourism that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said ‘thank you’ and went on your way. You sit there with your phones out, recording my words, looking for answers? Looking for the truth?!  YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!”

While the cover is getting all the attention, this reporter is more interested in the “Which Carter TV Series Character Are You?” test on page 25. I’m a Detective Sam Shaw!