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Building North Bay Canada Place one brick at a time

'In the spring of 2022 we are going to go to construction and that will have a seating area and a large concrete pad with a Maple Leaf and that will join up with the railings, lighting and the pathway that is already here'
20211006 Heritage Gardeners Canada place
Harriet Madigan speaks during Wednesday's media event. Photo by Chris Dawson/BayToday.

The construction of a unique gathering place is one step closer to reality. 

Harriet Madigan says the North Bay Canada Place Campaign has been something in the works since 2007. 

The well-known advisor with the Heritage Gardeners was one of a handful of project partners that gathered along North Bay's Waterfront for the Wednesday morning press conference. 

Madigan says North Bay Canada Place will be a meeting place for everyone.  

"We wanted to be a place where people say, 'I will meet you at North Bay Canada Place,' so it goes from country to community and that will be where people, hopefully from all walks of life will be able to meet, maybe have a meeting and there will be signage here to tell everybody of the history of North Bay Canada Place and how it came to be as well," she said. 

As part of the project, supporters will be able to purchase the bricks that will literally create the unique gathering place which will connect two major pathways off Memorial Drive on the North Bay waterfront.  

"So this fall we plan to sell all of our engraved pavers, there are about 600 4 x 8 bricks, and 100 12 x 12 bricks," noted Jade Scognamillo, North Bay Heritage Gardeners Executive Director.  

"In the spring of 2022 we are going to go to construction and that will have a seating area and a large concrete pad with a Maple Leaf and that will join up with the railings, lighting and the pathway that is already here."

The small bricks will sell for $250 each with the larger ones available for $1000. Information on how to purchase the bricks can be found at the North Bay Museum or at the Heritage Gardeners website.

"People are coming together with their families and putting money together like $10 from 25 people or $25 from 10 people and purchasing them," said Madigan.  

"My gardening team bought one so that is our legacy, the Dirty Dozen of the waterfront, that is what our name is."

Other partners involved in the project include the City of North Bay, Mitchell Jensen Architects, North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority, North Bay & District Multicultural Centre, Lindsay Weld Centre for Children and W.K.P. Kennedy Gallery. 

The North Bay Heritage Gardeners are dedicated to developing a year-round, community-based educational, horticultural, and environmental program focusing on waterfront beautification.  


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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