When we started four years ago, West Nipissing was coming through a difficult period and needed to get back on track. There was a lot of work to do — rebuilding relationships, strengthening our organization, addressing infrastructure needs and restoring confidence in our municipality.
We haven’t fixed everything. Four years isn’t enough to address all of the challenges we inherited. But we have made meaningful progress, and we’re in a stronger position today than we were when we started.
Here are some of the things we’ve accomplished together.
Investing in Our Community
- $18.2 million in provincial funding secured toward the Verner drinking water project, part of an approximately $24 million project, the largest single provincial investment in West Nipissing’s history.
- Champlain Bridge: The Province of Ontario has committed to paying 100% of the estimated $30 million reconstruction, eliminating the municipality’s usual 10% contribution and saving West Nipissing taxpayers approximately $3 million.
- Completed major water and sewer infrastructure upgrades in Sturgeon Falls, including replacement of the main water and sewer loop along King, Ethel and John Streets and installation of a new emergency generator at the water treatment plant, improving the reliability and resilience of essential services.
- Revitalized Goulard Park, including the reconstruction of two baseball diamonds, with almost $650,000 funding support from Jays Care Foundation and NOHFC, alongside municipal investment.
- Field Outdoor Rink: $675,000 in funding had already been committed before our term — including $500,000 from NOHFC, $135,000 from Caisse Alliance and $40,000 through community fundraising. Pandemic-era inflation significantly increased construction costs and created a funding shortfall. Our Council stepped in to fund the gap and make the project a reality.
- Rebuilt the Cache Bay outdoor rink, replacing an aging facility that had reached the end of its useful life with a new recreation asset for the community.
- Invested in three new fire trucks while continuing to address the needs of an aging fire fleet.
- Advanced the redevelopment of the former mill site, completing Phase 1 & 2 environmental assessments creating new opportunities for housing, commercial development, recreation and economic growth.
- Continued investments in parks, recreation facilities and community spaces across West Nipissing.
Infrastructure and Long-Term Planning
- Put greater emphasis on long-term infrastructure planning, asset management and financial sustainability, helping us better plan for the significant needs ahead.
- Changed the municipal budget timeline, approving the annual budget at least three months earlier than in previous years. This gives staff more time to plan capital projects and tender work earlier, resulting in more competitive bids and savings for taxpayers.
- Completed the provincially required update of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law, bringing West Nipissing’s planning framework up to date and providing greater clarity for residents, businesses and future development.
- Completed the 2023 Road Needs Study, providing a detailed assessment to guide future investment and priorities across our road network.
- Completed the West Nipissing Fire & Emergency Services Master Plan and Community Risk Assessment, establishing a long-term strategy for fire protection and emergency services.
- Adopted a Housing Strategy, establishing a 10-year framework to better understand and respond to local housing needs.
- Completed the Land Use and Development Strategy for the Former Mill Site, providing a framework for its future redevelopment.
- Continued modernizing municipal services, technology and internal processes, including work informed by the KPMG operational review.
A Stronger Municipal Team
- Repaired the working relationship between Council and staff, creating a more respectful, collaborative environment with stronger communication, teamwork and a shared focus on serving residents.
- Built a culture where people can disagree, have difficult conversations and still work together.
- Put greater emphasis on accountability, professionalism, planning and follow-through.
- Successfully planned for a key leadership transition, recruiting a highly qualified, bilingual Chief Administrative Officer following the previous CAO’s retirement. The stronger, more collaborative culture we’ve built at Town Hall helped make West Nipissing an organization where talented people want to work.
- Supported staff in adopting new technology and more efficient ways of working
Stronger Relationships and a Stronger Voice
- Rebuilt relationships with residents, community organizations, neighbouring municipalities and regional, provincial and federal partners.
- Participated in 25+ ministerial delegations and meetings with government decision-makers.
- Secured representation on key provincial municipal organizations, including the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Association francophone des municipalités de l’Ontario (AFMO), giving West Nipissing a stronger voice in provincial municipal affairs.
- Brought West Nipissing’s voice to a national conversation through the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction’s Small Cities Initiative, participating in the Municipal Leaders Table and helping shape the national Small Cities Playbook for Action. This work led to invitations to speak at national events and share the perspective of a small, rural and northern community.
- Strengthened West Nipissing’s credibility and profile with government partners, resulting in stronger working relationships that have helped bring funding and opportunities home
- Raised West Nipissing’s profile through municipal leadership, advocacy and national conversations.
- Built a stronger voice for West Nipissing on the issues that matter to our residents.
We’ve changed the way we work, strengthened our relationships, attracted investment and started tackling some of the challenges that had been building for years.There’s still work to do. But we’ve built a strong foundation, and we’re now in a much better position to take on what comes next.