The man who is involved in a citizens' grassroots effort to improve North Bay's waterfront will share his experiences with a Sudbury audience June 27.
Sudbury's Downtown Village Development Corporation will present
Dr. Rod Johnson, chair of North Bay's Community Waterfront
Friends, at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Holiday Inn
June 27.
Johnson will describe how his grassroots organization
developed a vision for the redevelopment of the North Bay rail
yards which flew in the face of conventional wisdom.
Determined that these lands not be developed with Big Box
centers and commercial development, the Community Waterfront
Friends put forth an alternate vision that would not only see
beautiful botanical gardens and carousels, a heritage museum
and a miniature railway tourist attraction but, at the same
time, save millions of dollars in site remediation and add $450
million dollars in the development and redevelopment of
adjoining lands.
CWF came up with a plan that they felt would reflect the
desires of the community, as well as meet the needs of the city
in that it was environmentally, socially and economically
sustainable. CWF obtained 14,000 letters of local citizen
support and in August 2001, city council officially adopted the
Vision of the Community Waterfront Friends. This action
received praise from provincial government officials who called
North Bay an example of a community finding innovative
solutions to its problems.
This promises to be an inspiring presentation on what a
community can do when they come together.  
For reservations, contact Kate Furlotte, Greater Sudbury
Chamber of Commerce, at 673-7133 ext. 224, fax 673-2944 or
e-mail:
[email protected]
.
Downtown Village Development Corporation is a private sector not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the market climate of downtown Sudbury through the enhancement of its identity and the strengthening of its economic vitality.
