Press/Stories

Launch of the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership & Three Year Funding Agreement

January 15, 2001
Saint John, New Brunswick

Press Release

Mayor Shirley McAlary and the Board of Directors of the Saint John Development Corporation are pleased to announce a major step forward in the launch of waterfront development activities in Saint John, New Brunswick.

This evening, at Saint John City Common Council, the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership was officially introduced to the community. The Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership consists of the City of Saint John, Saint John Development Corporation, Uptown Saint John, Enterprise Saint John, Saint John Board of Trade and Saint John Port Authority. All six organizations will cooperate in launching a new era of community development focused specifically on our waterfront.

Funding commitments for the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership are as follows:

  • City of Saint John: A total of $280,000 spread over three years.
  • Saint John Development Corporation: A total of $75,000 spread over three years.
  • Uptown Saint John: A total of $45,000 spread over three years.
  • Enterprise Saint John: A total of $45,000 spread over three years.
  • Saint John Board of Trade: A total of $45,000 spread over three years.
  • Saint John Port Authority: A total of $45,000 spread over three years.

The total funding commitment over the three year period is $535,000. Funds will be used to coordinate and promote waterfront development activities, hire a full-time Waterfront Development Manager, complete a Saint John Waterfront Development Business Plan and Master Plan, and launch a new era of well planned and well executed waterfront development. Simply put, funds will be used to make waterfront development become a reality.

Each of the Partners will be represented on the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership, and other representatives can be appointed from the community at large.

Appointments to the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership leadership team will be announced in February, along with the release of the Partnership’s Year 2001 Business Plan. A formal signing ceremony will also take place in February to acknowledge the Waterfront Development Funding Agreement.

The Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership and Board of Directors of Saint John Development Corporation are also very pleased to announce the following appointments:

Mr. John Wallace, President,
Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership
and
Mr. Neil Jacobsen, General Manager,
Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership
(effective February 1, 2001)

Together, Mr. Wallace and Mr. Jacobsen bring an outstanding mix of business development, project management and leadership skills to the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership. They are both strongly committed to the growth and development of the City of Saint John and the Greater Saint John region, and have served the community in a wide range of business and volunteer capacities. More detailed biographies of both John and Neil are included with this press package.

The initial geographic mandate of the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership will extend from the Irving Nature Park to Red Head, and up the St. John River just past Reversing Falls. These physical boundaries could change over time.

The Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership’s immediate focus is to:

  • launch a review and prioritization of waterfront development project components as previously
  • dentified in the Saint John Waterfront Strategic Plan (as completed by Malone Given Parsons Ltd. in 1999),
  • learn all we can from other North American communities who have launched successful waterfront development initiatives,
  • secure broad-based community input with respect to new ideas and new opportunities for waterfront development,
  • support the City of Saint John in its effort to acquire the Coast Guard site,
  • work with Onex Corporation to identify future development opportunities for the Lantic Sugar site,
  • and support the City of Saint John in efforts to redevelop Water Street.

The Waterfront Development Partnership has been launched to channel, focus and direct the community of Greater Saint John’s collective energy and enthusiasm for waterfront development.
The members of the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership are extremely proud to participate in this important community development initiative, and provide the following comments:

Mayor Shirley McAlary:
“We have seen some very exciting changes in our City over the past few years, and today’s announcement will help us launch a whole new era of community development. Waterfront development will make this community an even better place to live and visit. The benefits to the citizens of Saint John will be countless, and an even better quality-of-life will attract new businesses and new residents. This project is a solid investment in our community’s future.”

Mr. William T. Grant, Q.C.,
Chairman, Saint John Development Corporation:
“By forming this historic and unique partnership and stepping forward with the financial resources to make it work, we intend to send a clear message to both government and private sector investors about the importance of waterfront development and the broad base of support it has in this community.”

Mr. David O’Brien,
President, Uptown Saint John
“A new, focused waterfront development initiative will have untold benefits for Uptown Saint John. The leadership of the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership, combined with the vision and imagination of the community, will serve as a catalyst to make Uptown Saint John a better place to live, work and visit. Waterfront development will also encourage further redevelopment of the Trinity Royal heritage area and help create new uses and increased demand for upper floor space.”

Mr. Stephen MacMackin,
Chairman, Board of Directors, Enterprise Saint John “Over the last three years, the Greater Saint John region has led the Province in both economic growth and job creation. We see waterfront development as a means of maintaining momentum – the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership will serve as an important component of the region’s new integrated growth strategy. This historic new Partnership is a benchmark for regional participation, and is an example of what a community can do with focus and determination.”

Mr. Gerald O’Brien,
President, Saint John Board of Trade
“The Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership presents an excellent opportunity for the Saint John Board of Trade. The business community will be working side-by-side with the City of Saint John and the Partnership to encourage new development and increased economic activity. As an organization, we see this Partnership as an opportunity to invest, through our membership, in our collective future success and the betterment of this community.”

Mr. David Doyle,
Chairman, Board of Directors, Saint John Port Authority
“The Saint John Port Authority views its involvement in Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership as an excellent opportunity to work with community leaders, businesses and citizens on this important initiative. This project will benefit the Community in many ways: it will enhance the quality of life in Uptown Saint John and it will augment the already memorable cruise ship experience for tourists. It will provide a truly unique environment centered around one of Atlantic Canada’s premier working port facilities.”

For further information please contact:
Mr. William T. Grant,
Chairman,
Board of Directors,
Saint John Development Corporation.
(506) 636-7325

Mr. John Wallace,
President,
Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership.
(506) 632-1970

Mr. Neil Jacobsen,
General Manager,
Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership
(effective February 1, 2000).
(506) 658-2877

Mr. John Wallace
President,
Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership

John Wallace brings with him to his new leadership role with the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership a broad range of corporate and business experience, as well as a strong commitment to community development. John is well versed in the fields of commercial real estate development and property management.

Mr. Wallace is a Saint John-based Partner with the Atlantic Canadian law firm Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales, specializing in commercial and corporate legal practice. Prior to becoming a Partner with Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales, John served as Corporate Counsel for Irving Oil for 17 years, where he was responsible for resolving a broad range of business and legal issues, and was actively involved in the development and implementation of numerous business opportunities.

Before entering private legal practice in Saint John in 1973, Mr. Wallace obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Law Degree (LLB) from the University of New Brunswick.  In addition to his many professional activities and responsibilities, John has served the Greater Saint John region in a number of volunteer capacities. John is a former member of the Board of Directors of Uptown Saint John and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Saint John Development Corporation. He also serves on Enterprise Saint John’s Business Development Advisory Committee and is an important part of the team of local volunteers that helps sell this community as a great place to live, invest and locate a new business.

Mr. Neil Jacobsen
General Manager,
Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership
(effective February 1, 2001)

Neil Jacobsen brings a comprehensive portfolio of experience and education with him to the position of General Manager, Waterfront Development. He has spent the past ten years successfully promoting economic growth and diversification in the Greater Saint John and Fundy regions.

His professional experience has led to extensive involvement with the local business community, ranging from advising and mentoring small and medium-sized businesses to supporting the relocation of world-class corporations to the Greater Saint John region. Neil has worked in a management capacity for the Saint John YMCA-YWCA Enterprise Centre, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Enterprise Saint John. Through these organizations he has supported local small business start-ups, coordinated the delivery of a wide range of small business training and consulting programs, and managed a growing portfolio of business relocation and investment prospects.

Neil’s exposure to business is deep rooted; he grew up involved in a successful family business and has owned and operated his own small business. He attended the State University of New York (with honors) and McGill University, where he received his Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) degree in 1985. He later went on to receive his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario in 1990.

As an active volunteer within the community, Neil has been involved in a broad cross section of community organizations, including serving as Founding President, First Night Saint John, and participating on the Board of Directors of Family Services Saint John and Uptown Saint John. Neil also acted as Chairperson for Small Business Week (Fundy Region) for three years, and has contributed to a wide variety of Saint John Board of Trade and Enterprise Saint John committees, task forces and working groups.