February 18, 2009
Baldwin's at home on the waterfront
Development: General Manager of group happy to return to his hometown during such a prosperous period
BRUCE BARTLETT
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
SAINT JOHN - Editor's note: This is the sixth in a series of stories about individuals we expect will help shape the future of Greater Saint John in 2009 and beyond.
Kate LeBlanc/Telegraph-Journal
Saint John native Michael Baldwin returned home to become the general manager of Waterfront Development.
When Michael Baldwin accepted the job as general manager of Waterfront Development last September, he was returning to familiar turf.
Born in Saint John, he left with his family when he was halfway through Grade 10 and completed high school in Fredericton. He moved to Quebec to attend Bishop's University, where he earned a business degree. Back in Fredericton, he worked for a few years before returning to university to get a bachelor of science in forestry and environmental management.
After that he worked for UNB in land management while completing a master's of philosophy on policy around land development. It is an interdisciplinary degree that made it possible for him to tap into courses in various faculties, including engineering and law. "It allows you to put together a program that is tailored to the area you are working in and your interests," Baldwin said.
The master's degree helped him with his work at UNB and also prepared him for what he expects to be doing in Saint John on waterfront development issues over the next several years.
Baldwin was drawn into land-use planning by chance, when he found the job at UNB, but then discovered he was very interested in it. The university was a good training ground in planning because people called regularly wanting to make offers on land held by the institution.
"So we worked through a strategic planning process to come up with a proactive strategy for the university, and from being involved with that, I just slowly gravitated towards the planning side and the business aspect," he said.
He has worked on plans for both the Fredericton and Saint John campuses.
"It was by chance that some of the opportunities were afforded to me by the university, and that allowed me to dive into the business and planning aspect, which has been of great interest to me all along," he said.
In looking back, Baldwin said it was a whole series of events that led him to where he is today.
Before taking the job in September, Baldwin was in the city a number of times visiting family. He regularly went running on Harbour Passage and spent time in the uptown.
"To be part of that was really attractive to me. I know great work has been done to date," he said.
When the port was busier it meant ordinary people didn't have access to the waterfront, but the new series of trails offers them that chance. "That whole public component is important for the spirit of the community," he said.
Baldwin sees opportunities through both public and private investments to build on what has already been accomplished.
Eventually the trail system will connect the south end with the north end and the west side, he said.
Due to many factors Baldwin said he is still commuting from Fredericton to work in Saint John but hopes to make the permanent move soon.
Outside of work, he and his wife, Michelle Audas, are runners who both participate in marathons. "That's a fundamental component of who we are," he said. They both find running a way to recharge, he said. They have two children, Lauren, 13, and Isaiah, 8, and are very involved in their activities.
Baldwin said he is still on a learning curve with the job, but is inspired by the dedication of the volunteers who work on the board of Waterfront Development and the various other boards involved with making Saint John a better place to live.
"All the volunteers that support the various organizations, they just have this true love for Saint John and their hearts are all in it for the best reasons," he said.
In 2009 he hopes the public park at Pugsley Terminal will move ahead. There are also plans to improve the boardwalk at Market Square.
"On the private sector side we are really excited that this year will hopefully be the year we move ahead with the Coast Guard site," he said.
Waterfront Development is also looking forward to working with Irving Oil Ltd. if it goes ahead with an office building on Long Wharf, to integrate Harbour Passage with that proposal, he said.
More planning and public consultation will also take place this year around what to do to make Reversing Falls a more attractive destination, he said.