A water feature in Collingwood, Ontario, one presented to Saugeen Shores Council by Port Elgin BIA President Jeff Carver as part of his delegation for a reimagined Coulter Plaza in downtown Port Elgin.

Hub Staff

Downtown Port Elgin’s hub of community activity, Coulter Parkette, will receive a facelift to create programable space, attractions for kids and a proper place for outdoor performances.

During the April 24 Saugeen Shores Committee of the Whole meeting, Port Elgin BIA President Jeff Carver highlighted many features that could be created with the $145,000 allotted to the Port Elgin BIA through the 2017 budget to update the busy spot, reimagined as Coulter Plaza, in the downtown core.

“We’re looking to create a space that we can properly house and host events downtown,” said Carver April 24. “We want to treat that space as our town square, as that central meeting, gathering point in downtown Port Elgin, that encourages people to come here, enjoy themselves, take part in the activities that are going on and spend their money at local businesses.”

Included in the updated concept for the space was decorative plant beds, trees, new irrigation lines, a sitting wall, removable decorative flower boxes, a mountable curb, a contemporary water feature, stage area and an outdoor piano.

Reinventing Coulter Plaza has been identified as the number one priority for BIA membership and in a December delegation to councillors, Carver hoped that the project could be completed before the summer months, however the scope of ideas has set the timeline back.

Town CAO David Smith said features that had not been considered in the original proposal have adjusted the scope of the project and could also effect the estimated budget. “We won’t know the final numbers until they go to tender,” said Smith.

Carver said the Port Elgin BIA would alleviate any extra costs by allotting yearly contributions to the Town as they have done in the past. “If there is an overage, the BIA wants to take ownership of that, we want to make sure the space is created in the way that it should be created so that it functions for years and years to come,” said Carver.

Councillor Neil Menage asked, if after going to tender in May and it receives approval by Council, would the project be completed during 2017, to which David Smith said, “if council approves the budget and if other projects don’t crop up, then yes, we’re very confident.”

The parkette will be a busy spot this summer with the annual award winning Farmers’ Market taking place on Wednesdays throughout the summer months.

Carver also announced that the Farm to Table dinner, an event first held in 2016 and one that raised $5,000 for beautification, will happen once again.

In his delegation to Council, Carver said the BIA is proud to partner with 7Acres Farm, one of only a handful of licensed medical marijuana facilities in the country. As a title sponsor of the Farm to Table event, 7Acres will donate $2,500 plus any profits from its weekly booth at the Farmers’ Market. The donation will help the BIA alleviate costs associated with the event, thereby allowing the organization to dedicate more funds to beautification projects.

In conjunction with Canada’s 150th celebrations, the BIA will again be hosting Poutinefest. The poutine extravaganza, originally held in 2015, will be reinvented as a licensed event with artisanal vendors, food vendors, local brewers, live music and bouncy castles; and will coincide with the massive flag travelling from downtown Port Elgin to downtown Southampton.

Concept drawings of a reimagined Coulter Plaza in downtown Port Elgin.