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
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.