My Tbay - Dec. 2013/Jan. 2014

mytbay
Residents Invited to Imagine
the Future of the Gardens
3
Golf Links Corridor
Improves Flow For Citizens
5
Celebrating Those
Making a Difference
7
FEATURE
Becoming A Smart City
Dec 2013/Jan 2014
Citizen Newsletter • www.thunderbay.ca
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2 GOVERNMENT
Notices
City holiday service hours
Mayor KEITH HOBBS
Office: 625-3600 | Fax: (Office) 623-1164
E-mail: [email protected]
Councillors:
Iain Angus, At Large
Residence/Office: 474-0926 | Fax: 474-0881
E-mail: [email protected]
Mark Bentz, Northwood Ward
Residence: 577-8226
Fax: 577-2174 | Cell: 628-6910
E-mail: [email protected]
Ken Boshcoff, At Large
Residence: 473-8228
E-mail: [email protected]
Andrew Foulds,
Current River Ward
Residence: 766-9914
E-mail: [email protected]
Trevor Giertuga, McIntyre Ward
Residence: 683-8041 | Cell: 628-4790
E-mail: [email protected]
Larry Hebert, At Large
Residence: 622-7938 | Office: 624-1482
Fax: 624-1485 | Cell: 624-8551
E-mail: [email protected]
Rebecca Johnson, At Large
Residence/Office: 577-2807 | Fax: 577-4837
E-mail: [email protected]
Brian McKinnon, Red River Ward
Residence: 767-3945 | Fax: 768-4823
E-mail: [email protected]
Paul Pugh, McKellar Ward
Residence: 346-8485
E-mail: [email protected]
Aldo Ruberto, At Large
Residence: 768-8038 | Fax: 768-7959
E-mail: [email protected]
Linda Rydholm, Neebing Ward
Residence: 577-9260 | Fax: 475-7668
E-mail: [email protected]
Joe Virdiramo, Westfort Ward
Residence: 625-5547
E-mail: [email protected]
Administrative Offices
This includes City Hall, Victoriaville
Civic Centre, Transit Administration,
Herb Carroll, 55 Plus Centre and
other City Offices, which are closed:
Dec 24, at 12 pm through Jan 1.
City Services & Facilities
To better serve you, other City
Services continue on the regular
holiday and weekend schedule.
City Services and Facilities
are closed:
Dec 24 [Complex closes at 2 pm]
Dec 25
Dec 26 [Complex closes at 5 pm]
Jan 1
Solid Waste & Recycling Facility
Holiday Hours
Dec.24 8 am to 6:30 pm (normal hours)
Dec. 25 & 26 CLOSED
Dec.27 - 31 8 am to 6:30 pm
Jan. 1 Closed
Holiday Changes to Waste
& Recycling Collection
2014 Budget Key Dates*
Jan.27 - 2014 Operating and Capital
Budgets, 2014 Community Handbook
available at the Waverley Resource
Library and the Brodie Street Library
branches, and online at
www.thunderbay.ca/budget
Jan. 28 - Long Term Financial Overview
Feb. 4 - Public Pre-Budget
Consultation Meeting at City Hall,
Council Chambers, 5:30 pm, regarding the 2014 Capital and
Operating Budget. Each speaker will
have up to 10 minutes. For more
information, contact the Office of the
City Clerk at 625-2230
Feb. 5 & 11 - Council Budget Review.
5:30 pm start
Feb.12 - Public Post-Budget
Consultation Meeting at City Hall,
Council Chambers, 6:30 pm, regarding the 2014 Capital and
Operating Budget. Each speaker will
have up to 10 minutes. For information,
contact the Office of the City Clerk at
625-2230
Feb. 24 - Ratification by City Council
*Dates are subject to change. All meetings will
be held at City Hall and are open to the public.
For more information about the 2014 Budget,
visit www.thunderbay.ca/budget.
Seasons Greetings from
City Council
In lieu of Christmas Cards, a donation
will be made to the Thunder Bay
District Social Services Administration
Board Community Homelessness
Prevention Initiative.
P u blished By:The City of Thunder Bay
C omme n ts o n M Y TBAY :
Senior Editor: Karen Lewis, Director, Corporate Communications &
Strategic Initiatives | Phone: 625-3859 | E-mail: [email protected]
Managing Editor: Valerie Marasco, Communications Specialist
Phone: 625-2438 | E-mail: [email protected]
Ward Meetings
Everyone Welcome!
WESTFORT Ward
Councillor
Joe Virdiramo
Thurs., Jan. 23, 7 pm
West Thunder
Community Centre,
915 S Edward St.
Agenda: Ward & City Issues
For more information on City
Council Meetings & agendas visit,
www.thunderbay.ca/city_
government
Celebrate Diversity
The City of Thunder Bay and the AntiRacism Advisory Committee supports
awareness and observance of many
different cultural holidays and days of
importance. Following are some of the
upcoming observances our citizens
may be celebrating over the next few
months:
Dec. 21 – December Solstice
Dec. 25 – Christmas Day
Dec. 26 – Boxing Day
Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve
Jan. 1, 2014– New Year’s Day
Jan. 7, 2014 – Orthodox Christmas Day
Jan. 14, 2014 – Orthodox New Year
Jan. 31, 2014 – Chinese New Year
ON THE COVER:
Jim Green and Sarah Nelson share
app advice while taking advantage of
the new free WiFi at City Hall.
See page 3 for more.
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F E AT U R E
3
These public WiFi hotspots represent a major
milestone in that effort. They provide
a vital service to our residents,
and I’m looking forward to seeing
free Internet become even more
accessible for our citizens.
”
”
Mayor Keith Hobbs
The new hotspots mark the
beginning of Tbaytel’s enhanced
WiFi deployment. Each of the hotspots provides free
Internet access.
The enhanced deployment is targeting higher-traffic
public areas in the City, and more hotspots are due for
activation throughout 2014.
“Our Strategic Plan calls for increased Internet coverage
in our City,” said Mayor Keith Hobbs.
Becoming A Smart City
Thunder Bay, in partnership with Tbaytel, has
launched four new public WiFi hotspots in the City,
a small taste of things to come as implementation
continues on the Smart City initiative.
The new hotspots – located at City Hall, the 55 Plus
Centre, West Thunder Community Centre, and
Current River Arena – were turned on in a soft launch in
mid-November.
For Thunder Bay resident Jim Green, the new public
WiFi hotspots are a welcome addition to the City.
“Tbaytel is committed to providing Thunder Bay
and the rest of northern Ontario with the best
telecommunication solutions available in our own
backyard,” said Tbaytel president and CEO Dan
Topatigh. “Tbaytel’s complimentary WiFi service
keeps Thunder Bay connected on the go and now with
the addition of City-owned properties, residents can
enjoy the freedom of WiFi access in the places they
visit most.”
“City-wide WiFi is a dream come true and the
culmination of 20 years of work,” Green said.
Green, Vice-Chair of the 55 Plus Centre’s Board of
Directors, was heavily involved in the 807 City Free
Net service, which saw the establishment of the very
first server and Internet connection in Thunder Bay
(it was set up at Lakehead University in preparation
for the Nordic Games). I’m thrilled to see the 55 Plus
Centre now have wireless Internet throughout the
entire building,” Green said of the Centre’s new public
hotspot. “It’s great for programming and our users.”
Residents Invited to Imagine the Future of the Gardens
As part of the Thunder Bay Event
Centre initiative, City Council has
asked for a Future Use Assessment
for Fort William Gardens. The City
selected the Planning Team of
Thunder Bay’s FORM Architecture
Engineering working with Event
Centre consultants CEI Architecture
and PricewaterhouseCoopers. – Facilities, Fleet & Transit Services.
“However, the Gardens is nearing the
end of its life as a spectator facility
and it’s time for us as a community to
consider the very best possible future
uses for the building and the site.”
“Fort William Gardens has served our
community well for more than 60 years,”
said Michael Smith, General Manager
“All ideas are encouraged and will be
considered,” said Conrad Boychuk
of CEI Architecture. “Those ideas
The assessment will look at the full
range of options to use the Gardens as a
non-spectator facility.
may mean removing some or all of the
seats. As the project moves forward,
ideas will be assessed against guiding
principles to identify those options
that are the most meaningful to
residents and operationally efficient,
among other criteria. Following that,
the recommended options will be
provided to City Council for future
consideration.”
The Future Use Assessment is scheduled
for completion on March 4.
Community input is critical. Visit
thunderbay.ca/fortwilliamgardens to
review the Guiding Principles developed
by the Planning Team. See page four for
details of two open houses hosted by the
Planning Team.
4
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F E AT U R E
Imagine...
THE FUTURE
OF THE
FORT WILLIAM GARDENS
What Are the Options for Future Use?
Fort William Gardens is nearing the end of its life as a spectator facility and
City Council would like to know how it may serve the community, especially
if a new event centre proceeds.
Be part of a community visioning session and follow-up open house with
representatives of CEI, FORM, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
COMMUNITY VISIONING AND OPEN HOUSE SESSIONS
Wednesday, January 8
6 pm Tour of Gardens | 6:30 pm Presentation and Workshop
Tuesday, February 4
We look forward to hearing your ideas.
6:30 pm Presentation and Open House
Both sessions at Fort William Gardens, 901 Miles Street E.
Bus Routes: #2 Crosstown
For details including Guiding Principles developed by the Planning Team, visit:
Accessibility: If you require accessibility accommodation,
please call 625-2805
www.thunderbay.ca/fortwilliamgardens
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b u s ine s s
5
Golf Links Corridor Improves Flow for Citizens
A major Thunder Bay roadway has
been reopened after several months
of construction work, bringing lower
commute times, improved traffic flow
and reduced congestion to the City.
City of Thunder Bay representatives,
including Mayor Keith Hobbs, joined
Minister of Northern Development
and Mines Michael Gravelle and
Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill
Mauro on Nov. 29, to celebrate the
official re-opening of the stretch of
Golf Links Road that runs between
the Harbour Expressway and Oliver
Road. The section had been closed
since May 1, to accommodate the
project.
“With this work complete, Thunder
Bay residents will now enjoy easier
– and safer – travel across Thunder
Bay,” Mayor Keith Hobbs said at the
grand opening ceremony, held at the
intersection of Golf Links Road and
Central Avenue. “I’d like to thank the
Honourable Michael Gravelle and
Bill Mauro, MPP, for their significant
contributions to the securing of
funding for this project. I also wish
to thank residents for their patience
over the last few months during
construction, but I’m sure you’ll see
the results are worth the effort. I’m
excited to see the next stage of this
project get underway.”
The new Golf Links Road allows
for better access to residential and
commercial neighbourhoods in the
area, including Innova Park. The project
also increases opportunities for active
transportation in the City thanks to a
new multi-purpose trail on the west side
of Golf Links Road, furthering the City’s
goal to be Clean, Green and Beautiful.
Residents will also benefit from
improvements to intersections. The
traffic signals at the intersection of
Golf Links Road and the Harbour
Expressway have been improved, and
double left turn lanes and additional
turning ramps have been added. New
traffic signals were also installed at the
intersection of Golf Links Road and
Central Avenue.
The project – the first of three phases
of work to be done on Golf Links Road
over the coming years – was funded by
the province and the Renew Thunder
Bay Reserve Fund.
Phase II of this project will begin in
spring 2014 and will move the project
forward along Golf Links from Oliver
Road to John Street with four-lane
widening, sidewalks, trails and storm
sewer work.
Phase III is slated for 2015, and will
involve improvements to the portion of
Golf Links that runs from John Street to
Walkover.
( l- r ) Mayor Keith Hobbs, Honourable Minister Michael Gravelle and MPP Bill Mauro join City
Administration to celebrate the completion of Phase I of the Golf Links Corridor.
City-owned Properties For Sale
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING LOTS
5724 Townline Road √
89 x 260 metres± (2.3 ha±)
Commercial/INSTITUTIONAL Property
740 Arthur Street West– C3N Zone - $330,000
47 metres± x irregular (0.29 ha or 0.72 acres ±)
722 Catherine Street - $24,000
4.58 metres± x (irregular) (281.27 sq.m±)
608 Syndicate Avenue South– C1 Zone - √
30 metres± x irregular (0.49 ha± or 1.21 acres±)
639 McLaughlin Street - √
30 x 35 metres± (1,050 sq. m±)
910 Syndicate Avenue South– IN3 Zone - √
- 117 metres± x irregular (2711 sq.m±)
MULTI-RESIDENTIAL Property
352 Adelaide Street (2) – R2 Zone - √
40 x 33 metres± (1,320 sq. m±)
48 Court Street South & 262 Pearl Street –
C5 Zone - √
32 metres± x irregular (1,410.12 sq. m±)
210 Hodder Avenue – MU3 Zone - $700,000
93 metres± x irregular (1.2 ha±)
OFFICE SPACE LEASE OPPORTUNITIES
Victoriaville Mall
34 Cumberland Street North (Whalen Building) - √
47 Cumberland Street North (Thunder Bay Building)
Hudson Avenue at Shuniah Street - MU2
Zone - $600,000
105 metres± x irregular (1.2 ha±)
1101 Syndicate Avenue South – MU2 Zone √
50 metres± x irregular (2,990 sq. m±)
218 Empire Avenue West – MU2 - **
160.92 x 47.24 metres± (0.75 ha±))
√ Listed on MLS – Contact:
Ralph St. Jarre, Realtor - 626-3049
** Appraisals required
NOTE: All dimensions are approximate.
INNOVA BUSINESS PARK
Lot sizes from 0.3 to 2.2 hectares (0.79 to
5.4 acres) √
Lot prices starting at $70,000.00
Zoned for light industrial development to
allow for both service-based and
manufacturing business opportunities.
Contact: Realty Services Division, 2nd Floor,
111 S Syndicate Ave, Victoriaville Civic Centre,
Thunder Bay
Tel: 625-3199 Fax: 625-2977
Email: [email protected]
For information, listings and pictures visit www.thunderbay.ca/realty
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LIVING
7
Celebrating People Making a Difference
2013 Mayor’s Community Safety Awards
2013 Award Winners
Crime prevention is about partnerships and
compassion. It’s about working to understand
and connect with each other, and building a
sense of community and belonging. The 3rd
Annual Mayor’s Community Safety Awards,
presented by Union Gas, were held Nov. 4, and
recognized individuals and organizations making
Thunder Bay a safer place to live, work and play.
“This year’s recipients are truly exceptional
citizens, whose dedication and passion for their
community is inspiring,” said Mayor Keith Hobbs.
“Their efforts are something we can all take
inspiration from – community safety is everyone’s
responsibility, and we can all make a difference in
our own way.”
To watch the winners videos and read the profiles
highlighting their outstanding efforts, go to
www.thunderbay.ca/crimeprevention
Derek Khani
Community Hero
pride central at
lakehead university
student union
YOUNG LEADER Award
ALLISON LAMB
we stand up!
Outstanding Community Projects
These awards recognize Thunder Bay –based
organizations for outstanding results in community
safety or crime prevention through partnership
and collaboration. The four Outstanding
Community Projects received $1,000 from their
award sponsors to reinvest in community safety
initiatives that benefit Thunder Bay communities or
neighbourhoods.
Thank you to our sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
roots to harvest
Community Hero Award
Kizhaay Anishinaabe
Niin (I Am a Kind Man)
To watch videos about the winners and read the
profiles highlighting their outstanding efforts, go
to www.thunderbay.ca/crimeprevention
OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Young Leader
Simpson Street Business
Improvement Area
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8 LIVING
,
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LIVING
Naturally Gifted
Brightly coloured
wrapping paper and
gift bags are not
recyclable due to
high dye content, and
must go out with the
garbage.
Over 500,000
tonnes of gift
wrap and bags
are discarded
each year
in Canada.
These, along
with bows and ribbons, end up in our landfill.
If everyone in Canada wrapped three gifts
in reused or recyclable paper or gift bags,
enough paper would be saved to cover
45,000 hockey rinks!
This holiday season, the City of Thunder Bay and
Eco-Superior want you to make your holidays
‘Naturally Gifted’. Recycled, re-purposed,
natural or eco-friendly wrapping supplies, such
as newsprint, comics, old maps, sheet music,
outdated calendars, Kraft paper; and re-usable
paper and fabric gift bags; make great, lowimpact alternatives to conventional wrapping.
Check out the Naturally
Gifted: Eco-Friendly Gift
Wrapping display at Spark in
the Park at Prince Arthur’s Landing on Dec. 22.
Naturally Gifted Craft Kits are also available to
community groups, teachers and organizations
who want to learn how to green their gift
giving. Kits include samples and step-by-step
instructions on how to create a variety of bows
and baubles for dressing up your gifts using
recyclable materials.
For more details, contact Shannon at
624-2142 or [email protected]
9
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10 L I V I N G
Parking This Winter
Park off the street during snowfall
events. Be sure to adhere to Calendar
Parking Restrictions that are now in
effect. Winter parking restrictions
apply to all streets with signs posted
for Calendar Parking or Priority Route
Restrictions.
Priority routes are signed “No Parking
Anytime” or “No Parking Between 2
am and 7 am”. At these times plows
are clearing downtown cores, bus
and emergency vehicle routes. Other
streets may be designated for odd and
even day Calendar Parking.
Remember that parking restrictions
are enforced regardless of weather
conditions.
Winter Parking Restrictions
This winter please take extra
care to follow parking signs.
Parking restrictions will be
enforced throughout the winter
until March 31 - unless lifted by the
City earlier in March due to longrange weather predictions.
Clear the Way for Winter
Winter weather is here and along
with it, snowy and icy road conditions.
The’s City’s winter operations are out
in full force, plowing, sanding and
clearing roadways and sidewalks.
Each storm is different, so each storm
receives a different response, but once
snowfall accumulation reaches five
centimetres on the ground, the plows
are out. Plowing begins at 2 am on
arterial and collector streets (emergency
routes) and it can take about seven
hours to clear these main routes.
After 10 centimetres are on the ground
and main (arterial) routes are clear,
crews move onto residential streets.
Clearing all of the residential streets
can take up to 72 hours to complete.
Help us work as efficiently as
possible to clear the roads:
• Be careful! Stay back when
following a plow or sander. Give
these large pieces of equipment
extra room to maneuver. DO
NOT PASS. Turning a plow in
an intersection often means
the driver must back up while
making the turn. For safety’s
sake – please stay back!
• Be patient. Be assured that
crews are working hard to
keep roads open and safe.
• Take your time when travelling
to your destination, winter
weather can present some
challenging driving conditions
– slow down and remember to
drive to road conditions.
No Parking
on even
calendar
days
9 am to 5 pm
No Parking on
odd calendar
days
9 am to 5 pm
No Parking
Any Time
No Parking from
2 am to 7 am
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LIVING
11
Celebrating Exceptional
Achievements
The 38th Annual Citizens of
Exceptional Achievement Awards
will honour individuals, organizations
and groups
who volunteer
to create a
neighbourhood
or community
where people
feel a sense of
belonging and
responsibility to each other, and are
active participants in its life.
Do you know a volunteer that makes
your community a better place to live
and work? Nominations are now open
for the following categories:
• Youth Award
• Good Citizen Award
• Spirit of Thunder Bay Award
The submission deadline is Jan. 31, 2014. For award criteria or nomination
form, visit thunderbay.ca/officialrecognition or call 625-2758.
D
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WITH
Whether you’re new to Tbaytel, or an existing customer with High Speed Internet, and Home Phone or Post-Paid Mobility,
simply make Tbaytel Digital TV a part of your Connected Home for 24 months and you’ll receive a:
200
$
• FREE HD PVR
• FREE ADDITIONAL HD BOX
• FREE INSTALLATION
INTERCITY GIFT CARD*
Call Customer Care 807-623-4400
or 1-800-264-9501
tbaytel.net
Services are subject to availability where access and technology permit. Promotional pricing for new residential customers who have not subscribed to applicable services in the past 6 months. Bundled pricing to apply once promotional period ends. Hardware
provided by Tbaytel, either rented or purchased, may be new or refurbished. Free hardware provided by Tbaytel must be returned upon cancellation of service. *$200 Intercity gift card offer available when signing up for 24 month Connected Home term.
Connected Home consists of High Speed Plus or Max Internet, Digital TV and Home Phone or Post-Paid Mobility service. Existing customers must add Digital TV service for which they have not subscribed in the past 6 months to be eligible. Tbaytel reserves
the right to substitute an equivalent or better offer without notice. Offer, prices and services subject to change at the discretion of Tbaytel. Limited time offer that expires January 15, 2014 or while quantities last. Visit tbaytel.net/connectedhome for full details.
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