Former North Bay Mayor Jack Burrows fought a long, hard battle to see his vision of a community waterfront park, where people could go to play, finally come to fruition.
Burrows entered municipal politics in 1989, serving as both Deputy Mayor and Mayor for 15 years. He passed away in 2013.
In recognition of his leadership role in helping to create the North Bay Community Waterfront Park on the former rail lands, city council has given unanimous support to name the plaza beside the North Bay Museum, the “Jack Burrows Civic Plaza.”
See: That big open space next to the museum will soon have a name
Councillor Chris Mayne, who brought the motion forward at Tuesday’s city council meeting, said the honour is well deserved.
“Some of us on council were looking for a naming opportunity for former mayor Jack Burrows. It was really one of his last major decisions while he was in office, to make the effort to purchase the waterfront lands from the railway, which had been a perpetual issue for councils over the years,” said Mayne.
“Last summer the North Bay Heritage Board passed a motion to name the plaza area in between the North Bay Museum and Oak Street, as the ‘Jack Burrows Civic Plaza.’”
The matter has gone to staff to work out the details.
“Such as where would the plaque go? What would it be made of? What would the wording be? When would be an appropriate day to have an official opening? That should come back to council within the next month to six weeks to see it approved.”
Burrows’ wife Elaine and her two daughters sat in the gallery listening to the many compliments paid to her husband.
She said he would have been very proud of this legacy, making sure to share the honour.
“I think it is a great idea, and I am very pleased that the city is doing this,” said Elaine.
“Jack would say ‘It wasn’t only me who did this, it was council and city staff.’ He was always giving credit where it belonged. It was a group commitment and it was quite a commitment because there was a lot of opposition to it. He was like a dog with a bone. He thought it was good for the city, good for the people of North Bay and he was going to see it through.”
In the end it was a fight worth fighting.
“It is a beautiful spot. Everybody loves it. Everybody enjoys it. And it just happened to come up when Jack was mayor and he fought it through. It is a great spot.”
Elaine says trips to the waterfront will now take on a new meaning.
“Now especially when he has a plaza named after him. I’ll have to walk there more often.”
Daughter Patti Callahan was beaming with pride.
“It is thrilling for all of us. We just feel so, so good that dad has been recognized in this way. He spent many years with a lot of opposition to his vision at the waterfront, and I think today we can see it has become a wonderful place for people to go with their families, the Farmers’ Market and it is just a nice legacy to my dad,” said Callahan.
Born and raised in North Bay, Burrows was deeply proud of his roots. And now because of his foresight, his grandchildren reap the benefits of the waterfront along with the countless residents and visitors who spend time there.
Daughter Debbie Hudson says there is a sense of pride among the grandchildren when they spend time enjoying the waterfront, knowing their grandfather had a hand in its development.
“They’re going to be thrilled like we are. He always had that thing in his head and he just decided this was going to go through council, and he did it. And we were saying too, it is not just because he was a politician, but he was also a real community leader, involved in a lot of things and I think that helped to shape him. He had a lot of experience on boards and with different organizations, and he always had a nice way with people. People liked him,” said Hudson.
Councillor Mike Anthony who seconded the motion said he and Mayor Al McDonald are the only two members on the current council to work with the former mayor when they were first elected.
“He was a class act all around, patient and kind and respectful to all. He had a gentleness in his nature that could calm you no matter how stressful the situation,” said Anthony.
North Bay Mayor Al McDonald served his first term on council with Burrows in 2000.
McDonald describes Burrows as having been a true gentleman and visionary.
“He brought this project forward when the opposition to the whole park was enormous. As a matter of fact, they kind of wanted to run him out of town, but he stuck to his guns. And here we are 19 years later recognizing that he was right from the very start,” said McDonald.
“So, I’m very pleased to support this. I think it is a great honour for Jack and it is just a wonderful memory for the Burrows family.”
