Calling it the single most significant endowment North Bay will ever see, Mayor Victor Fedeli gave a heartfelt thank you to the Orsi family who have donated 92.
Calling it the single most significant endowment North Bay will ever see, Mayor Victor Fedeli gave a heartfelt thank you to the Orsi family who have donated 92.93 Acres of land on the city's escarpment to the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority in loving memory of their patriarch the late Frank Orsi.
“Frank and I first came to North Bay in 1974, we saw a great opportunity to raise our young family and build homes for a hundred families,” Mrs. Enza Orsi says speaking for the family.
“We wanted to leave a lasting memory of Frank Orsi and this deeding to the (North Bay) City (the escarpment) will truly represent a man with big ideas (and) a big heart.”
“We love North Bay and all of the good people. Thank you.”
Mrs. Orsi didn't mince words on how this land is to be kept - - undeveloped.
“If they destroy that I am going to go after everybody here, it's for the kids,” she states passionately.
“No, there to remain there forever to have people enjoy the area. And the Conservation of course is beautiful.”
Brian Talyor, NBMCA General Manager says the donation makes this the best day the authority has ever had.
“The escarpment is what North Bay is, just like Trout Lake and Lake Nipissing is it defines the community.”
“And for us to be the owners of the majority of the escarpment is a really, really proud day.”
“It's unbelievable.”
The escarpment is part of a series of physical and ecological systems that provide habitat and recreation, as well as tributaries that flow to Lake Nipissing. The easterly portion of the donated land overlooks the Chippewa Creek valley.
Officials say the donated land includes approximately 20.5 acres west of Hwy 11N, stretching west behind Hearst St. to Sherryl Cres. On the east side of Hwy 11 N, the additional 72.44 acres begins north of the Ministry of Transportation yard and extends easterly to Golf Course Rd., just south of the Bain St. intersection. A portion of land extending north from there to Cedar Heights Rd.is also included.
