A speech to the local chamber of commerce in Wallaceburg on April 7 was one of the first Mayor Darrin Canniff has made in person since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, and it included a bold prediction.
“I firmly believe that within the next couple of years Wallaceburg will be one of the fastest growing communities in Chatham-Kent and probably the region,” he said.
Canniff said Wallaceburg is on the “verge of great things,” as many people are interested in coming to the community.
He said there are many projects he would love to be able to discuss but can’t at this point.
However, the mayor said there is the potential for $100 million in investments being made in the community over the next two to three years, which would equal $10,000 for Wallaceburg resident.
“If that doesn’t make a statement about where Wallaceburg is going, nothing else does,” he said.
Canniff said housing will be big part of what will be fueling growth, citing the recently approved five-storey, 85-unit apartment building on Baseline Road.
He said with investments such as $245 million to build a new Crown Royal Distillery in nearby St. Clair Township, the recent announcement of a $5-billion electric vehicle battery plant coming to Windsor, as well as the $50-million Magna plant opening in Chatham , Wallaceburg is well positioned to take advantage of the spin-off opportunities.
Canniff said housing will be a big part of that, because people will want to live in an affordable community.
The mayor said he recently spoke with a housing developer and asked, hypothetically, if the developer had 1,000 new homes available in Wallaceburg, how long would it take to sell them? The developer suggested they would be sold within three months.
The mayor said affordable housing is being examined because Wallaceburg needs a “spectrum of housing, we need all of it.
Canniff pointed to infrastructure spending in Wallaceburg, including a minimum of $18 million to build a new water treatment plant, which could grow to $45 million if the intake is moved to increase capacity to serve more of the North Kent area.
He also noted the $3.6 million being spent to upgrade the water tower on Otter Line, to be completed by September.
Millions of dollars have been spent on road reconstruction and watermain extensions, with more road reconstruction projects to come in Wallaceburg, Canniff said.
He also noted the recent approval to spend $1.6 million to rehabilitate the Stonehouse Walking Bridge.
Canniff said he would like to see LED lights, designed by a local artist, to help make the bridge a tourist attraction.
Upgrades to the Baseline and Lord Selkirk Bridges have been completed and the Murray Street Bridge and Dundas Bridge are in line for upgrades, he added.
Canniff said the province is spending $25 million for upgrades at the Wallaceburg hospital along with another $7 million for a new power plant.
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance president and CEO Lori Marshall, who attended the April 7 event, said it’s her personal commitment to ensure the hospital in Wallaceburg remains viable.
“That’s a key cornerstone for Wallaceburg moving forward, is having a modern health-care facility,” Canniff said.
Having jobs is another important aspect to helping Wallaceburg grow, the mayor said.
He said Chatham-Kent’s economic development services department has connected with more than 200 employers during the pandemic. A big issue for many is finding employees.
Canniff said in speaking with youth, two of the main reasons they cite for wanting to leave the community is there is nothing to do and there are no jobs.
The mayor said hundreds of jobs are posted on chathamkentjobs.com.
While there is still work to do, Canniff said the future is bright for Wallaceburg.