In January 2000, Hariett Madigan brought together a group of volunteer, municipal and business organizations to discuss the future of North Bay’s waterfront and newly acquired rail lands. From that initial meeting, an idea began to grow: to create a plan that would beautify the area, revitalize the community and substantially contribute to an improved quality of life for our citizens.

Following numerous presentations and consultations, Community Waterfront Friends (CWF) was formed. The core group currently is comprised of the following members: Rod Johnston, Hariett Madigan, Michael Puccini, John D’Agostino, Allison Zadorozny Quinn, Diane Wallace, Carol Brisson and Sue Buckle.

CWF came up with a plan that they felt would reflect the desires of the community, as well as meet the needs of the City in that it was environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. After gathering letters of support representing 14,000 local citizens the group was incorporated as a non-profit entity. In 2001 CWF signed a joint lease with the North Bay and Area Museum and embarked on a plan to rehabilitate the abandoned CP Station. In August of the same year, North Bay City Council officially adopted the Vision of the Community Waterfront Friends (North Bay) as its development plan for the waterfront and rail lands. This action received praise from provincial government officials who called North Bay an example of a community finding innovative solutions to its problems.

On August 13, 2002, Conestoga Rovers & Associates (CRA) and IBI Group presented the findings of their study of the waterfront and rail lands to North Bay City Council. They concluded that due in part to the careful design of the buildings and attractions featured in the CWF plan, remediation costs for the contaminated rail lands would be $1.3 million, considerably lower than the $11 million previously estimated by the city. Because of this the CWF vision was determined to be the best economic, environmental and social solution to the many problems that existed on North Bay’s waterfront.