|
WHAT'S HAPPENING
CONSTRUCTION IMMINENT FOR NEW LOW-LEVEL BRIDGE AUGUST 10 - During a visit to Cornwall, Government House Leader John Baird announced plans to begin construction of a new low-level bridge to replace the existing span between Cornwall and Cornwall Island. The $75-million project is expected to be completed by the spring of 2016, and portions of the work are expected to be tendered in the near future. Unlike the existing bridge, the new crossing will connect at the foot of Brookdale Avenue, thereby creating a more direct route to the downtown and Le Village areas of the city for visitors. It will also lead to open the door to new redevelopment opportunities along Brookdale Avenue.
NEW CITIZEN OF THE YEAR WALKWAYS UNVEILED AUGUST 10 - A large group of community leaders were on hand in Lamoureux Park to witness the unveiling of the new Citizen of the Year Walkway arches, an initiative of the Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce. The tree-like structures feature the names of all of the past Citizen of the Year recipients, and they are strategically placed at each end of the pathway between the clock tower and the civic complex. The decision to build the eye-catching monuments was prompted by a senseless act of vandalism in 2008 in which the original plaques along the walkway were stolen. CHAMBER SURVEY IDENTIFIES MOST WANTED STORES JULY 29 - The results are in and Cornwall shoppers have spoken. The introduction of selected retail outlets would augment consumer shopping choices and could possibly reduce the outflow of dollars to other centres. That’s according to a comprehensive survey carried out by the Cornwall & Area Chamber of Commerce. “Over 65% of the close to 500 respondents indicated they out-shopped at least once a month,” reports Chamber President, Jeff Bethune. “The results of the survey suggest that with the introduction of new stores, we could reduce and in some cases eliminate out-shopping.” Close to 90% of respondents shopped in Cornwall at least once a week with the Brookdale Centre and Cornwall Square topping the destinations at 77.3% and 75.3% respectively. Eastcourt showed 34.9% with downtown Pitt Street at 24.8% and Le Village at 5.1%. In the general retail sector, Old Navy topped the list followed by American Eagle, Gap, Children’s Place, Laura’s Roots, Jacob, Moores and Aeropostale. The Bay, with a minimal response ranked highest amongst department stores. Specialty retailers included Future Shop, Chapters, Best Buy, Bulk Barn, Michael’s and Toys R Us, Sports Chek, Sports Experts, Aldo and Golf Town. Restaurants in demand included Starbucks, Montana’s, Red Lobster, Second Cup, Quizno’s Boston Pizza and Taco Bell. Questions about service in Cornwall revealed that over 73% considered it to be about the same or better than other communities with just under 19% rating it ‘not as good’. 45% identified areas, or more specifically, stores in which they would not shop because of poor service. “The Chamber will be sharing the survey results with the various shopping areas and BIAs and hopes to work collectively on a strategy that adds to our mix of retail stores andkeeps our consumer dollars within the community itself,”continued Bethune. A complete copy of the report can be found on the Chamber web site at www.cornwallchamber.com.
CORNWALL POLICE SECURES FUNDING FOR CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION CAMERAS JULY 20 - During a visit to Cornwall on Wednesday, Ontario Attorney General Chris Bentley announced a grant of $100,597 for the Cornwall police service to purchase closed circuit television equipment. The equipment is expected to be installed in the Le Village area following consultation with the business community, and it will help deter unlawful activity and ensure the safety of the community, officials said. Consultation will take place this summer, and the equipment is expected to be installed in the fall.
BUSKERS SET TO CONVERGE ON CORNWALL'S DOWNTOWN JULY 19 - Cornwall's downtown streets will come alive this Saturday with the Sounds of Buskerville. Local entertainers will be setting up and performing outside various downtown establishments from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Donations will be accepted, with the proceeds being split evenly between the entertainers and the United Way of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. For more info, visit http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=124039734290784&ref=ts.
ARTS IN THE PARK RETURNS FOR ANOTHER SEASON JULY 19 - Another great lineup of local entertainment has been assembled for the Arts in the Park 2010 Concert Series. Throughout the summer, the Lion's Club bandshell will be playing host to a number of talented performers from Cornwall and the surrounding area. The free, family-friendly concerts will begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise stated. All shows are weather permitting. For more info, visit http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=120757961290022. Monday July 19 -- Moe Lemieux & Company CORNWALL'S CORE GETS SOME NEW FEATURES
  JUNE 21 - The arrival of summer has brought with it some new enhancements to the streetscape in the downtown and Le Village areas. New benches and garbage cans have been strategically placed throughout the two business districts, while new Cornwall banners have been erected on the light standards along Water Street. Be sure to take a look, or better yet, take a seat!
COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM JUDGES TO VISIT CORNWALL IN JULY
JUNE 18 - Cornwall will be participating for the second year in the Communities in Bloom Provincial edition. Judges are set to arrive in Cornwall from July 19th through to the 21st.
Throughout the spring, City staff and members of the community have been hard at work with tree planting initiatives, bark and compost day, litter pick up and the addition of recycling bins and garbage bins throughout the city. Garden centres and landscape contractors and designers have been busy helping homeowners and businesses beautify their properties. Cornwall is now in full bloom! The Cornwall - A Community In Bloom committee is ramping up efforts within the community by encouraging citizens to make an extra effort, whether it is to pick up litter, plant a few extra flowers, host a neighbourhood competition for the “best yard”, participate in green initiatives or show some civic pride by participating in the endless possibilities within the community. The Judges’ visit will include the evaluation of all community efforts in the following categories: tidiness, environmental awareness, cultural and heritage conservation, landscaped areas, turf and ground cover, floral displays, tree and urban forest management and community involvement. TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
JUNE 16 - Local historian Lily Worrall has put together a great collective of photographs and memories from Cornwall's past. You can take a trip down memory lane by visiting her website, http://home.cogeco.ca/~lmworrall/index.html.
 Ontario Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell signs the city's golden book
following a roundtable discussion with local business leaders at city hall.
AGRICULTURE MINISTER HOSTS ROUNDTABLE WITH CITY, BUSINESS OFFICIALS
JUNE 8 - Ontario Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell got a first-hand account of some of the positive steps that are taking place in the ongoing revitalization of Cornwall's commercial areas during a roundtable discussion today with city and business officials at city hall.
Among other things, Mitchell heard about the success of the downtown farmers' market - which is now in its second season - as well as businessman Eric Lang's proposal to convert the old Snetsinger building on Pitt Street into a high-end restaurant.
The MPP for Huron-Bruce has a background in business and downtown issues, and she urged the group to continue working to develop the downtown areas of the city.
During her visit, Mitchell also acknowledged the funding that's been provided by her ministry under the Ontario Main Street program for Progress Boulevard, a new three-year revitalization strategy aimed at retaining and expanding Cornwall's business community. Building on the ongoing success of Heart of the City (HOTC), Progress Boulevard will work with stakeholders to develop a long-term vision for the future of Cornwall’s commercial areas.
For more info on the new initiative, visit the Progress Boulevard section of this website.
DEMOLITION WORK BEGINS ON KNOX-ST. PAUL'S JUNE 3 - Demolition work has commenced on a key parcel of land in the city's downtown. Crews from Demo Plus have started dismantling the old Knox-St. Paul's Church at the intersection of Second Street and Sydney Street. The church became vacant due to structural concerns. "The building is unsound," said Ray Lalonde, an official with Paris Holdings. Lalonde said the structure will be completely demolished, and the work should be completed by the end of this month, weather permitting. As for the future of the site, Lalonde said there's no formal plans on the table at this point, however there is a for sale sign on the property. Given its central location in the city, the site presents a great redevelopment opportunity, the official added.
CHAMBER LAUNCHES SHOP LOCAL SURVEY JUNE 1 - The Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce is launching a comprehensive survey of consumer shopping habits in the City. The public will be surveyed about their shopping habits by a team of interviewers at various shopping areas in the city. A survey will also be available on-line and residents are encouraged to visit the chamber web site at www.cornwallchamber.com to participate. “The survey is designed to identify area consumer shopping habits including where they shop in Cornwall, whether they visit centres outside the city, and how frequently. The survey begins on Monday, May 31 at various shopping areas and on-line and shoppers should be on the lookout for interview teams as they shop.
FARMERS' MARKET SET TO OPEN JUNE 1 - The second season of the Cornwall Farmers' Market will open this Saturday morning, June 5, at George Assaly Lane (on the east side of Pitt Street between Second and Third streets). The market will showcase a wide range of local growers, artisans and lifestyle choices, and it will run every Saturday through to October 9. For more info, visit www.cornwalldbia.com.
CORNWALL SET TO LIFT-OFF! MAY 19 - Chantal Kreviazuk, Our Lady Peace and Randy Bachman will headline this year's Kinsmen Cornwall Lift-Off festival, which will run from July 8 to 11 in Lamoureux Park in the city's downtown. The headliners will be joined on stage by Crash Parallel, Lighthouse and Jarvis Church (lead singer of the Philosopher Kings). Cornwall Lift-Off has grown considerably from its beginnings in 1994. It is Ontario's only hot-air balloon festival, and this year, an estimated 25 hot air balloon teams will fly over the city. The event is expected to draw upwards of 50,000 spectators. The full 2010 festival schedule can be found at www.lift-off.ca.
ONTARIO STRONGEST MAN CHAMPIONSHIP COMING TO CORNWALL MAY 19 - Lamoureux Park will be the scene of the Provincial Strongest Man Championship during this year's summer Lift-Off festival. The winner will move on to Canada's Strongest Man Competition and if successful there, to the World‘s Strongest Man Competition. The Championship will include weight lifting events as well as other eye-catching performances such as a head to head tire flip, a car dead lift, and even a transport pull. Preliminary events are scheduled for Saturday July 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the finals being held on Sunday, July 11 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more info, visit www.lift-off.ca.
|
