Why Owen Sound Must Address Basic Needs Before Gallery Expansion

Using Maslow's Hierarchy to Guide Municipal Spending Priorities
Owen Sound faces a critical question about municipal priorities: Should we invest in expanding the art gallery while members of our community struggle with homelessness, food insecurity, and lack of access to basic services? This isn't an argument against the arts - it's a call for responsible, compassionate governance that addresses fundamental human needs first.

Understanding Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

In 1943, psychologist Abraham Maslow proposed a theory that remains profoundly relevant to municipal governance today. His hierarchy of needs suggests that humans must satisfy basic requirements before they can focus on higher-level pursuits. The hierarchy is typically represented as a pyramid with five levels:

Level 1 – Physiological Needs: Food, water, shelter, warmth, rest

Level 2 – Safety Needs: Security, stability, freedom from fear

Level 3 – Belonging Needs: Relationships, community connection

Level 4 – Esteem Needs: Recognition, accomplishment, respect

Level 5 – Self-Actualization: Creativity, personal growth, pursuit of potential

Cultural enrichment and the arts fall primarily into the upper levels of this hierarchy - they represent self-actualization, creative expression, and community identity. These are valuable pursuits, but only after lower-level needs are met.

The Reality in Owen Sound

Walk through downtown Owen Sound on any given day, and you'll witness the gap between Maslow's theory and our municipal reality. People sleeping in doorways. Individuals struggling with addiction without adequate support services. Families choosing between rent and groceries. These are Level 1 and Level 2 needs going unmet in our community.

When we have residents who lack secure housing, when mental health services have months-long waitlists, when food banks are overwhelmed - we cannot justify prioritizing an art gallery expansion. It's not that the arts don't matter. It's that survival matters more.

The Practical Application to Municipal Budgets

Maslow's framework isn't just psychological theory - it's a practical guide for municipal spending priorities. Our city budget should reflect a commitment to building from the foundation up. When it comes to Bsic Needs, all Owen Sound residents are city Council's responsibity and deserve direct attention from city hall first and foremost. Although the county is rightfully exercising it's responsibility, Owen Sound City Council must allways take the lead when it comes to the welfare and care for its residents who are suffering.

First, address physiological and safety needs: This means investing in emergency shelters, affordable housing initiatives, mental health and addiction services, and food security programs. It means ensuring our most vulnerable residents have a warm, safe place to sleep and access to basic healthcare.

Second, strengthen community supports: Once basic needs are addressed, we can invest in community centers, programs that combat social isolation, and services that help people rebuild their lives and connections.

Then, consider cultural enrichment: Only after we've established a strong foundation should we direct significant municipal resources toward projects like art gallery expansions. At that point, more residents will actually be in a position to benefit from and enjoy these cultural amenities.

This Isn't Anti-Arts - It's Pro-People

Critics may characterize this position as being against culture or the arts. That's a misrepresentation. The arts are vital to a thriving community - but a community cannot truly thrive when its most vulnerable members are in crisis.

Moreover, investing in basic needs often has multiplier effects that benefit the entire community, including the arts sector. When people have stable housing and mental health support, they're more likely to participate in community life, including cultural activities. When we reduce street-level disorder by addressing root causes, downtown businesses - including galleries and theaters - benefit from increased foot traffic.

The Compassionate Choice

Maslow's hierarchy reminds us that human dignity begins with having basic needs met. It's difficult to appreciate beauty when you're hungry. It's hard to contemplate art when you don't know where you'll sleep tonight. It's nearly impossible to engage with culture when you're fighting for survival.

Owen Sound has an opportunity to demonstrate what compassionate, evidence-based governance looks like. We can choose to build our community from the foundation up, ensuring that every resident has their basic needs met before we direct significant resources to amenities that serve higher-level needs.

A Call to Action

As residents of Owen Sound, we must demand that our municipal government prioritize effectively. This means:

Asking tough questions at council meetings about how proposed spending addresses community needs at different levels of the hierarchy. Demanding transparency about how many residents are struggling with basic needs and what concrete steps are being taken to address these challenges. Supporting budget allocations that prioritize housing, mental health services, and addiction support over cultural expansion projects.
The next municipal election is October 26, 2026. Between now and then, we have the power to shape the conversation about what kind of community we want to be. Do we want to be a city with an impressive art gallery and people sleeping in doorways? Or do we want to be a community that takes care of its own, building cultural amenities only after ensuring every resident has a safe place to call home?

The Choice is Ours ~ First Things First