North Bay's Canada Place waterfront project delayed
A disappointed Hariett Madigan walked along the North Bay waterfront at the future site of Canada Place.
The project will include a new walkway, seating and gardens meant to recognize diversity and inclusion.
"With new people in our community, and immigrants and all the citizens of the city and all of it visitors, we wanted to have a special gathering place," said Madigan who is the co-chair of the North Bay Heritage Gardeners.
The Heritage Gardeners are spearheading the Canada Place project, which has been in the works since 2017 in honour of the country's 150th anniversary.
The project is being delayed due to product availability, and labour costs which has doubled the original $120,000 price tag.
The heritage gardeners went to tender for spring 2022 construction only to find costs inflated.
"You have to go with the climate as I say and go with the flow," said Madigan. "But we're determined to have the project finished."
North Bay Heritage Gardeners Canada Place
The federal government previously committed $50,000 for Canada Place.
Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota expressed his disappointment with the project's delay Saturday.
"I just encourage the volunteers and the people working on it to keep going and not to give up because it's a beautiful project that will benefit the waterfront and benefit all people of North Bay," Rota said.
The request for additional funds to make up the shortfall will be presented to city council for the 2023 fiscal budget. This will create another year delay in completing the project.
"This is your place to meet with your family. This is a jewel of our community right here and Canada Place will be another jewel," said Madigan.
Responsibility for the project will he turned over to the city... but the Heritage Gardeners will retain responsibility for walkway brick sale, purchase, and engraving.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
WATCH Expecting an interest rate cut in June? Don't bet on it after new jobs data
Canada's labour market rebounded in April, adding more than 90,000 jobs, a staggering number of new positions after four consecutive months of little change.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.