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Mission waterfront a priority for council

Mayor: ‘We still see our waterfront as a phenomenal opportunity for the entire community’
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Mission Mayor Pam Alexis speaks at the Chamber Christmas Luncheon on Thursday afternoon. / Kevin Mills Photo

Mission’s waterfront was the main focus of Mayor Pam Alexis’ Christmas speech.

The mayor was speaking at the annual Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce Christmas lunch on Thursday afternoon at the Best Western.

She told the crowd the waterfront is alway high on the list of council priorities.

“We all recognize the potential to revitalize these lands and our riverfront and what that could mean for the health of our entire community,” she said, adding it is an opportunity to create a celebrated destination that inspires and invites visitors to discover Mission and also honours the importance of the Fraser River.

Alexis told chamber members that, across the globe, waterfront revitalization efforts are driving positive economic growth and positive impacts and that could be Mission’s future.

“The District of Mission has committed to the revitalization initiative of 150 acres of the Mission waterfront,” said Alexis.

Mission has had many technical studies and market analysis done to identify both the opportunities and constraints of developing the waterfront in the past decade.

“We still see our waterfront as a phenomenal opportunity for the entire community, and now its time to take the next step… Today I’m pleased to say that comprehensive waterfront revitalization creative outlet strategy is underway,” announced Alexis.

The district is working with Carla Guerrera of Purpose Driven Development, who has recently worked on the revitalization and development on Toronto’s waterfront.

“This phase of the project, the pre-development strategy includes a number of technical studies offers direct engagement with landowners and agencies that will impact or be impacted by the revitalization. And will create a road map to enable a global approach,” said Alexis.

She also said the district is working on engaging meaningful conversations with local First Nations.

The next step is to complete the revitalization road map. Alexis anticipates moving into land use planning in the fall of 2019.

While the waterfront was the focus of her speech, Alexis also said council has been extremely busy in the past few weeks and is embarking on a strategic plan that will shape the next four years and beyond.

“As stated in my inaugural address Coun. Hamilton and I are going to be working on supporting women in leadership roles, regardless of sector as we are uniquely positioned to provide mentorship to the women in our community.”

Another initiatives that Mission will be pursuing is that “we are open for business.”

“We’re beginning the process at city hall with a review of our core systems and processes. We have a team engaged in a critical assessment of all technology and they’re working with a consultant to create a technology road map setting up the digital strategy for the municipality.”

Alexis called it a massive, multi-year project that will create significant improvements in efficiencies and effectiveness to better serve the community.

She also indicated that increased engagement with the community is another priority.



Kevin Mills

About the Author: Kevin Mills

I have been a member of the media for the past 34 years and became editor of the Mission Record in February of 2015.
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