THUNDER BAY – My personal favorite preference for the new event center being discussed for the City of Thunder Bay, would be at the Pool 6 site. There is a lot of room there for possible future expansion should the need arise. There is also ample room for parking. I do realize the cost of locating this development there, but I have many reasons why that location should be seriously considered. As well, I strongly believe that it would in the best interest of our community, if the city were to purchase the former Northern Woodland’s property.
Pool 6 holds many opportunities for this city to grow her economy and expand on what we offer to visitors and residents. I would love to see Lake Superior Place at the head of Pool 6, serving as an icon on our waterfront as well as a cruise ship terminal. I would love to see the Aboriginal Cultural Centre developed in that area as well, complimenting, perhaps even acting as a partner to Lake Superior Place. The Aboriginal Cultural Centre would include medicinal research gardens, a traditional teaching lodge, a sweat lodge, an aboriginal history museum and art gallery, cultural teaching and crafting corners, a language respository, an 8 to 10 story tall teepee that would light up on the inside, glow on the outside, welcoming people to the city from the land, the sea and the air. The event center would compliment the Aborginal Cultural Centre, for there is a need for a larger venue to host national and possibly even international pow wows and other cultural events.
I even see the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition moving down there on the waterfront at some point. We could host a 10 to 14 day city wide festival, including a much larger midway on our waterfront…big name concerts and other events in our new event center, and events taking place in all major parks through out the city. Partner with Fort William Historical Park, and call this festival the Great Canadian Rendezvous Days. I see this as eventually rivaling the Calgary Stampede or Edmonton’s Klondike Days.
Traffic would be an issue, but all development includes dealing with logistic issues.
A new 4 lane entrance into the area from the west, via over/underpass (possibly John St.). The marina park boulevard would take care of traffic from the North/South corridor. All this would help alleviate any traffic concerns that may become evident through such a large a project.
Just imagine a large cruise ship sailing into the Thunder Bay harbour and seeing all of that activity taking place on our waterfront.
This will obviously take considerable planning, and would be rather costly, but I view this as a major investment into the future of our community. All of this would help Thunder Bay become a world class destination point and add to the vibrancy and rich lifestyle that we have come to enjoy.
…It all begins with a dream…
John K. Susin
johnsusin@opportunitythunderbay.ca
NetNewsledger.com has invited opinions from a range of people in our community to share their ideas on where the Multiplex should be located. The views expressed may, or may not reflect those of NetNewsledger.com