Commemorating the beginning stages of the waterfront development

It’s been 35 years since plans got underway that helped North Bay’s Waterfront become what it is today.

A commemoration event is taking place tomorrow (Saturday) to celebrate the establishment of the Chamber’s Lakefront Committee.

A bench at the waterfront has been funded and donated by the original ten members of the committee.

Councillor George Maroosis was on the committee.

He says it was an initiative by the Chamber of Commerce to look at what could be done to join the Golden Mile area and the government dock area at the time.

Over the years, the city got involved and there was funding from all three levels of government with a major re-construction of the dock and waterfront.

Back in 1983, in this archive audio clip, former Mayor Merle Dickerson said the Lakefront plans looked good.

In 1984 the city purchased the land, as we hear in this archive audio clip with former Councillor Don King.

The Government Dock is now know as Kings Landing, named for Don King.

The waterfront’s official opening took place in 1987.