Future of northern Ontario is the focus of TVO's The Agenda with Steve Paikin On the Road interactive event, March 21 and 22

    -   Timmins, Ontario, is host city for innovative two-day interactive
        event March 21 and 22
    -   Registration open now at tvo.org/agendacamp for daylong workshop
        taking place on Sunday March 21 - space is limited, early
        registration is recommended
    -   Live, on-location broadcast airs Monday March 22 at 8 pm on TVO

TORONTO, March 2 /CNW/ - What role will northern Ontario play in the future of our province? On Sunday March 21 and Monday March 22, TVO's The Agenda with Steve Paikin will head to Timmins, Ontario, for the third and final stop in its On the Road tour, to hear directly from northern Ontarians about how their communities will help reinvent our province in the new economy.

The unique two-day event will be held at the Timmins High and Vocational School and features a daylong, participant-led workshop called AgendaCamp on Sunday March 21 in the school atrium, followed by a live, on-location broadcast of The Agenda with Steve Paikin from the auditorium on Monday March 22 at 8 pm.

What will northern Ontario look like coming out of the recession? What does Ontario need to become a 21st-century powerhouse? Could the new Ontario be a green Ontario? How can Ontario's northern communities contribute and benefit? TVO will provide the platform for citizens of northern Ontario for an informed discussion about the issues and questions that will shape their future. The two-day event is driven by participants whose ideas at the AgendaCamp will determine the focus of the live broadcast the following day.

"Reinventing Ontario means different things to different regions of the province," says anchor and senior editor Steve Paikin. "In our two previous stops this year, in London and Brockville, we witnessed and heard this first hand as community members from all walks of life came out to raise the major issues that mattered to them and propose the solutions needed to move their region's agenda forward. We're excited about bringing the discussion to Timmins and look forward to getting an on-the-ground perspective from residents of our northern communities, from Kenora to Kirkland Lake."

Last year, TVO and The Agenda with Steve Paikin took citizen engagement and community outreach to a whole new level with the popular five-city Agenda on the Road tour exploring Ontario's regional economies. Northern stops on last year's tour included Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay, where AgendaCamp participants engaged in spirited discussions around Ontario's resource economy and opportunities for our Aboriginal communities. This year, like last, AgendaCamps are integral to the success of the tour. The innovative TVO-hosted community forums bring together community leaders, policymakers, members of the public, program guests and Steve Paikin to share ideas about reinventing Ontario in the 21st century.

"TVO is part of the social fabric of Ontario," says TVO's Chief Executive Officer, Lisa de Wilde. "And our On the Road events are all about building cohesive communities by enabling a province-wide conversation on what we need to become a global leader for the 21st century. It's a great example of what makes public television in Ontario so unique: our goal is to make a positive difference in people's lives."

To participate in and propose a session for AgendaCamp, or for free tickets to be part of the live audience the following day, visit tvo.org/agendacamp now to register.