Press/Stories

Harbour Passage Project Receives New Funding From The Greater Saint John Community

June 26, 2002

Saint John, NB - The Harbour Passage Project received a significant boost today as a result of a $130,600 financial commitment from a wide cross-section of local individuals, organizations and companies, including the Saint John Development Corporation ($100,000), Deloitte & Touche ($10,000), the Town of Rothesay ($7,500), Bourque Industrial Ltd. ($5,000), Brenan's Select Community Funeral Home ($5,000), Discount Car & Truck Rentals ($1,000), Colin & Isabelle Wallace ($1,000), and Bob McVicar ($500). An additional $600 was raised from a Harbour Passage fundraising breakfast held on the Coast Guard base earlier this morning. The breakfast was attended by an estimated 300 people.

William Grant, Chairman of the Saint John Development Corporation, stated, "the Harbour Passage Project is an important first step in providing much-needed public access to the Saint John waterfront, and was identified as a priority in our 1999 Waterfront Strategic Plan. The Saint John Development Corporation is very proud of our community leadership role with respect to the waterfront development initiative."

"Momentum is really building for the Harbour Passage", commented John Wallace, President of the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership, "we are very pleased and proud to welcome our new community funding partners to the Project".

Bill MacMackin, Chair, Harbour Passage Working Group, added, "The community is coming forward in a really significant way to make this Project and waterfront development a reality. We now have an entire team of community volunteers dedicated to Harbour Passage fundraising efforts."


Previous funding announcements for the Harbour Passage Project include $284,500 from the Saint John Harbour Bridge Authority, $250,000 from the Saint John Port Authority, and $70,295 in final design funds from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

The Harbour Passage will create a series of inter-connected waterfront parks, recreation spaces and heritage sites extending from Market Slip and Market Square to York Point, Long Wharf, Harbour Station, Fort LaTour, HMCS Brunswicker, Chesley Drive and Bentley Street. Future extensions are planned to Main Street, Fort Howe, Douglas Ave., Fallsview Park and Reversing Falls. Phase 1 of the Harbour Passage Project has an estimated capital cost of $2.5 Million.

The Harbour Passage will include:

  • a multi-purpose recreation trail network suitable for walking, running, biking and roller-blading;
  • year-round public recreation, arts, cultural and heritage spaces;
  • spectacular waterfront viewing areas;
  • interpretive structures, signage, lighting and seating areas;
  • landscaping, park areas, ponds and constructed wetland areas.

For further information:

William Grant,
Chairman, Saint John Development Corporation
636-7325
John Wallace,
President, Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership
637-9221

Bill MacMackin,
Chair, Harbour Passage Working Group
632-1135
Neil Jacobsen,
General Manager, Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership
632-6112