Residents make opinions known
More than 170 people respond to survey about revitalization
More than 170 responded to a survey dealing with the revitalization of Glace Bay and surrounding communities.
‘There was a great response,” said Eileen Lannon-Oldford, CEO of Business Cape Breton.
“Equally among the three communities (Glace Bay, Reserve Mines and Dominion) there were some really great ideas that came forward that are being assessed now by the consulting company,” she said.
Project proposals involved infrastructure, waterfront development and the downtown cores.
Lannon-Oldford said the ideas and projects are being assessed and prioritized. It must also be determined if investments will come from the community, private sector or government programs.
A draft of the plan is expected toward the end of June.
“The draft will be presented to the stakeholders around that time for their final feedback,” she added.
Business Cape Breton along with Ekistics Planning and Design, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and the province of Nova Scotia have embarked on a Glace Bay, Reserve Mines and Dominion revitalization planning process.
Officials with Ekistics worked with the community over three months to identify projects and initiatives that will have a transformative effect on the region.
Public meetings were hosted and the public was asked to fill out surveys regarding developments they would like to see.
Lannon-Oldford said there were consistencies among the surveys including improvements to the Glace Bay waterfront and downtown facade, Dominion Beach and the Reserve Mines business hub and park area.
She said key community assets such as the Savoy Theatre, Cape Breton Miners’ Museum, Bayplex and other entities were also highlighted with suggestions for advancements.
Lannon-Oldford said a common trend from the survey responses was support overall for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
“There’s a real strong focus on linkage. This is going to be a long-term vision, with projects building upon each other.”
She said there is also a strong focus to have a strategy developed that won’t sit on a shelf.
“We have to identify the resources for (projects) and find those resources and we‘ll build one upon the other.”