Downtown North Bay & Waterfront

North Bay Downtown Waterfront Master Plan

The Downtown Waterfront Master Plan was presented to Council on March 1, 2017. The full report and presentation can be found online.

Waterfront

North Bay's waterfront is one of the City’s most valued amenities. People are using the waterfront area for a wide variety of purposes; some of which include swimming, boating, fishing, rollerblading or just plain relaxing while watching a beautiful Lake Nipissing sunset. Upon the arrival of winter, North Bay's waterfront becomes a main attraction for ice-fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.

The pedestrian underpass allows citizens and visitors to visit and enjoy the Downtown and the waterfront as one. To help further boost this unique community asset, opportunities for new compatible commercial development in the vicinity of the marina are continually being sought by the city. Contact a member of the Economic Development Team to find out how you can relocate your business to this highly desirable area of the City. 

Amenities of North Bay's Waterfront:

• 250 boat slip marina
• Next to the Government Dock; home port for the Chief Commanda II 
• Picnic shelters, band shelters
• Plenty of beaches for swimming
• Heritage Mini-Train and Heritage Carousel
• A.C.T. Playground
• Kate Pace Way (bike path that runs along shoreline)

Downtown

North Bay’s downtown has numerous retail, professional and personal services, restaurants, and hotels. We pride ourselves on attracting local entrepreneurs who have unique products and services to offer.

The City of North Bay has demonstrated its commitment to a healthy downtown through projects such as the “Big Dig”, the acquisition and restoration of the former CP Rail lands, construction of a transit terminal and the establishment of the Downtown Improvement Area (DIA).

Numerous new businesses opened in our downtown core, which points to the continued success of the former the Downtown Community Improvement Plan. (DCIP). The DCIP was a series of City-funded incentive programs designed to stimulate private-sector investment in the downtown core. It has since been replaced with the new Growth Community Incentive Program.

Since completing the downtown investment attraction study, in partnership with the DIA, the Economic Development Department has implemented several strategies, including undertaking the community’s first ever Vacant Building Tour.  The downtown vacant building tour was a way of engaging the real estate community and City departments and officials in showcasing 15 buildings which attracted local attention and investors from across the region.

The WIN THIS SPACE initiative encouraged entrepreneurship in the downtown with one grand prize of a one-year lease (up to $15,000, not including utilities or leasehold improvements), plus additional prizes from various sponsor donations, including valuable in-kind professional service.