Open Letter: Castle-Arms Board of Management
Dear Members of the Board of Management, Board of Management Castle Arms Non-Profit Apartment Corporation
I hope this letter finds you well. On September 2nd, 2025, members of the Cassellholme Board of Management and I made a formal delegation to the Council of the City of North Bay regarding the transfer of Castle Arms assets to a private non-profit corporation without municipal representation. At that meeting, Council passed a resolution supporting the formation of a committee – comprising the Mayors of Cassellholme’s member municipalities and Cassellholme Board of Management representatives - to explore options that prioritize the best interests of Castle Arms residents. The resolution also endorsed the use of a third-party mediator to seek a resolution and, should mediation fail, authorized the committee to pursue all available legal and administrative avenues to restore democratic and public oversight of the Castle Arms Non-Profit Apartment Corporation. Similar resolutions have since been passed by the councils of all member municipalities.
As Chair of this Committee and on behalf of the mayors of the member municipalities, I am writing to formally invite the Board of Management of Castle Arms Non-Profit Apartment Corporation to participate in a mediation process aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute. As you are aware, the issue surrounding the transfer of Castle Arms assets remains unresolved. We believe that mediation offers a constructive, efficient, and respectful path toward a mutually agreeable solution.
We have identified a neutral and experienced mediator, Sabine Matheson of StrategyCorp, who has successfully facilitated similar matters. The goal of this process is to engage in open and honest dialogue, avoid the costs and delays of litigation, and ultimately reach a resolution that protects the interests of all parties – most importantly, the residents of Castle Arms. Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process, and we are confident it can lead to a fair and balanced outcome.
We are also concerned about misinformation that has been shared with residents, suggesting that municipalities intend to sell Castle Arms assets. This claim is entirely false. At no point has there been any discussion or intention by municipalities to sell these assets. The goal of restoring public oversight is to ensure transparency, accountability, and long-term stability for the residents – without any disruption to their housing or services.
We respectfully request your confirmation of participation in the mediation process by October 15th, 2025. You may contact me directly at Rick.champagne@eastferris.ca.
We remain hopeful that the Board will join us in this effort to resolve the matter collaboratively and in the best interests of the Castle Arms community.
Sincerely,
Rick Champagne
Chair, Mayor’s Committee on Castle Arms
