Current River Ward –
Newsletter
Andr ew F ou lds, Counci ll or
Cu r r ent River War d
Spring 2009
Current River Ward – Budget Hilights
• Boulevard Lake Stabilization Project
• Trowbridge Falls Pedestrian Bridge
Rehabilitation
• Centennial Park Muskeg Express
Upgrade
• Boulevard Lake Dredging
• Fencing at Centennial Park
• Trowbridge Falls Campground
Re-development
• Washroom at Waddington Park
• Boulevard Lake Water Quality Study
• North End Recreational District
Upgrades
• Major Road Construction including
Leslie Ave and Cowan Street as well as
many other smaller re surfacings
Ward Meeting #5 – Fall 2008
Current River Recreation Centre
In the three years since the municipal
election in 2006, jobs and the economy have
been the number one issue for citizens. In
response, I hosted a Ward Meeting with Mr.
Royden Potvin, President Thunder Bay
Ventures. He outlined the role of Thunder
Bay Ventures, the services to business it
provides in the community, as well as the
history and its accomplishments of the
organization. He also provided participants
with a pamphlet called “Local Solutions for
Local Economies.”
The other topics discussed at the meeting
were roads, policing, potholes, pools,
recycling, economic development, Superior
C.V.I., Waterfront Development, vandalism,
graffiti, and recreation trails.
Serving you…….
We are now approaching the third year of this mandate and
I am continuing to work hard at City Hall on your behalf. I
appreciate all the phone calls and emails keeping me apprised of the
issues in the ward and the city.
We have seen many improvements to our area: more
pathways, road construction, more improvements to parks and
playfields, more trees, and more recycling containers in our parks to
highlight a few.
Further, I have joined the Earthwise Committee because of
my belief in an economically and environmentally sustainable
future. To achieve this we must work proactively to protect our
valuable resources for future generations. I have also joined the
Strategic Fire Master Planning Committee. This committee will be
working to improve our fire services to all of our citizens.
Hydro One Legacy Pro ject
In the year 2000 Thunder Bay was the Forest Capi ta l
of Canada. Through the leadersh ip of the Forest
Capi ta l of Canada Assoc iat ion , many exc i t ing
pro jects were bui l t through partnersh ips with the
City of Thunder Bay, the Governments of Ontar io and
Canada, loca l bus inesses as wel l as other
bus inesses . Hydro One bel ieves that the memory of
al l the accompl ishments in 2000 should not be
forgotten. In Centennia l Park you wi l l soon see the
Hydro One Legacy Pro ject – a new lookout and
walk ing paths . From th is lookout there wi l l be
beaut i fu l v istas of Boulevard, of Lake Super ior and of
wonderfu l green space.

Graffiti
In the summer of 2008 our city saw a significant increase in the
number of incidents of vandalism and graffiti. As a result, I
brought forward a resolution to Council - which it endorsed -
asking administration to develop a comprehensive and
proactive approach to dealing with the issue. Whether or not the
graffiti might be ‘artful’ in nature or deface property with
symbols of hate and violence, it is unasked for, unwanted and
costly to deal with. I believe strongly we must act progressively
to deal with this issue.
Pr oper ty Standar ds B y-Law Upda te
Last year, I reported to you that I
had brought forward a resolution to
Council asking administration to look
at strengthening the Property
Standards by-law. Because of the
Gr eenin g the Fl ee t
Last year, I asked Council to consider
investigating the use of alternative fuels in transit
buses, specifically the use of hydrogen as a fuel.
This fuel will be used by a fleet of buses that will
transport athletes at the 2010 Winter Olympics in
Whistler. Hydrogen is also being integrated in
transit fleets in Europe. Our fleet of 49 buses is
responsible for nearly 50 % of the greenhouse
gases emitted by our municipal fleet. As a result
of the work of the Earthwise Committee and the
Council’s Strategic Plan, the Green Fleet
Implementation Plan will over the next 8 years
save $765,820; reduce greenhouse gas
emission by 9,774 tonnes or the equivalent of
taking 254 mid size gas powered cars off the
road for 8 years. We will achieve this through
several initiatives such as biofuels used in
combustion engines, procurement of fleet
assets, operator education and training, new and
emerging technologies (hydrogen and hybrid
technologies)and Fleet efficiencies.

resulting strengthened Property

Standards by-law and the hard work
by the city’s enforcement staff, there
have been approximately 150 more
property standards cases in the last
year. We are working hard towards
making this community more Clean,
Green, Beautiful and a place we can
Greening Thunder Bay One Tree at a Time
Nearly 100 community volunteers planted red pine and white spruce
trees on May 24. This year another 650 trees were planted in the
Black Bay Bridge area. This brings the total trees planted to 1800
trees in three years. The added bonus of this year’s tree planting
was it was combined with the annual Arbor Day Celebrations.
There was music, planting demonstrations, educational displays and
a ‘guess the value’ of some local trees with gift certificate prizes.
Thank you to all the volunteers who came out and planted trees.
Also, thank you to Trees Thunder Bay, ZWAT, Hill’s Greenhouse,
Forest Capital of Canada, the City of Thunder Bay, Lansdale
Greenhouses, Delight, Thunder Bay Field Naturalists and the
Earthwise Committee.

Washroom at Waddington Park

Finally, after 15 years of asking, a washroom at

Floor Plan of New Washroom
Waddington Park will be built. Thanks to many people,
especially the Current River Recreation Association,
who worked very hard to make this a realty. The new
facility will be environmentally friendly, with solar
technology and natural lighting. The architectural
finishes and colour schemes will complement the other
structures in the park. This facility will be centrally
located too so that all athletes, parents and
spectators can access it.

ANDREW FOUL DS , Counci ll or C ur r ent R iv er War d

Email: afoulds@thunderbay.ca phone: 766-9914