According to a 2024 Stats Canada report, data gathered between 2000- 2024 demonstrates a long-term trend of decreased greenness in Canada. Comparing the data baseline period (2000-2004) to the most recent five-year-period (2020-2024), shows that greenspace in Canada has declined by 8%. Urban expansion and densification are contributing factors significant to this pattern of greenspace loss. Milton, Ontario has experienced the largest decline in greenness by an alarming 30.5%, owing to a massive 350% population surge between 2001-2016 driven by international migration.
In Thunder Bay, the pressure is on to build 2,200 housing units by 2027-an aggressive target established within the Terms of Reference for the Mayor’s Task Force on Building More Homes. To meet conditions of the province’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), the City’s promise to build 1,755 housing units with HAF funding, must be met with shovels in the ground by 2026 -but at present, the City is behind by about 1,200 units. Falling short of this target loses the City almost 6 million in funding from HAF. With the clock ticking, the City’s priority is high density housing proposals, and fast. The message is clear -as many units as possible, anywhere, including greenspaces.
Though there is no shortage of suitable sites for development already zoned for residential and mixed use development -with appropriate public utilities infrastructure already in place, the City of Thunder Bay is entertaining sacrificing greenspaces to developers -and developers have enthusiastically responded. Of the ten opportunity sites offered by the City for housing development proposals, three are greenspaces. Four proposals have been submitted thus far. Of these four proposals, three focus on building on the three greenspaces made available by the City. One of these greenspaces, is in my backyard.
This greenspace has recently become known to me, and the community, as 791 Arundel Street. In November 2025, it was announced that a 600-unit housing development proposal on this 3-hectares small but precious greenspace is currently under consideration by the City of Thunder Bay. A recent adjustment to the proposal shows that this proposal has been ‘reduced’ to 400 units. By comparison, Waverly Park Towers in Thunder Bay has only 154 units and is still a whopping 16 stories high.
Not only is the Arundel greenspace zoned for Community use, but it is also a well-utilized, and well-loved local spot, including paved and lit walking paths that serve as a connecter to the LPH trails, Boulevard Lake, and the Bluffs as well as linking directly to the Active Living Corridor on Arundel street. While an exact year for the initial ‘Community’ zoning of this green parcel is not specified in current records, local residents and officials note this site has been maintained as parkland and greenspace for ‘decades’. In 1997, this greenspace composed the host site for the Scouts Canada Jamboree. Beyond that, locals recall neighbours clearing the overgrowth in the meadow so that neighbourhood children could gather and play. Today, the enjoyment of this park space has not waned and community members treat this uninterrupted green swath of forest, nestled in the heart of Current River, as a destination point where we can access a system of paved and natural trails while appreciating the beauty of our northern Ontario landscape, all within our backyard. This green haven is a beautiful and unique feature of our community. There is no other place like it in Thunder Bay.
And it is worth preserving.
However, the City of Thunder Bay does not agree.
To advance this development proposal, City Council must agree that this greenspace currently zoned ‘Community’ be sold off as surplus. Once this is achieved, the greenspace would need to be rezoned for residential development. The first step in this process, was for City staff to convince Thunder Bay’s Growth Standing Committee that declaring this greenspace as surplus was the right move.
In their efforts to engage public feedback, the City of Thunder Bay slipped a survey onto their website to give community residents a chance to weigh in on the collective and individual proposed developments. On December 1st 2025, the City recommended to Thunder Bay’s Growth Standing Committee that the 791 Arundel greenspace be designated as surplus and put forth the ‘findings’, generated through online feedback, to validate their favourable position regarding the proposed development on the greenspace. In their report to the Growth Standing Committee, City staff declared that ~49% of online survey respondents were in favour of the 600-unit housing development on the greenspace while ~15% were neutral or unsure, and ~39% were not supportive.
But there’s a punchline.
Only 142 residents of approximately 108,000 residents responded to the online survey regarding developing housing for a response rate of just .00013%. Regarding open feedback submitted to the City regarding just development on the Arundel greenspace resulted in only 52 replies generated from residents for a .00048% response rate. One does not need to be an academic to understand that such woeful response rates produce ZERO findings.
How do we trust the City when they eagerly promote insufficient data as a reliable finding to propel forward their recommendation to build on greenspaces?
So, contrary to recent reports, there definitely is NOT resounding support for massive housing developments in our greenspaces. Regardless, on December 1st, all but one member, Councillor Trevor Giertuga, of the Growth Standing Committee agreed that this green sanctuary, beloved by many Thunder Bay residents, ought to be declared as surplus.
The next City Council meeting is on January 13th, and it is quite likely that at this time, City Council will be encouraged by City Staff to follow their recommendation and the Growth Standing Committee’s example, by declaring our greenspace as disposable and suitable for this massive development. And to be clear, my position on development of any size in this beautiful greenspace is ‘NO’.
The National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (NCCEH) outlines several best practices for developing high density housing. Developing in a greenspace is not one of them. In fact, NCCEH states that, “Existing open green and blue spaces should be protected and utilized as these spaces have many positive impacts on an individual’s health and wellbeing and promote the health of our natural environment.” Even though we all know this, it is clear, not all value this proven and ancient wisdom.
With 650 unhoused individuals in Thunder Bay, and efforts to boost the City’s population through initiatives such as the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), we need more housing. Over 1,200 newcomers were brought into the Thunder Bay region by August 2024 and hundreds more are expected through ongoing RCIP efforts. But this housing proposed for the Arundel greenspace isn’t prioritized for the unhoused and people struggling to pay rent and eat. In fact, the City made it clear that this housing would appeal to young professionals, newcomers, young families, and retirees with just 10% of units targeted for low-to mid income families- maybe. The City can provide no assurance that the developer will designate any units, with consideration to affordable housing.
Interesting to note, proposals brought forward by the Native People of Thunder Bay Development Corporation and Elevate NWO for the development of affordable housing on the City’s opportunity sites, were rejected by the City on the grounds that the City has a preference for high density housing projects.
When we lose our greenspace, we lose it forever. And development spreads -it won’t just be the loss of this greenspace, there will be more to lose, including green parcels between Boulevard Lake and 791 Arundel, and across the street of 791 next to Chartwell’s retirement residence. And most residents know of the ongoing battle to preserve the LPH trails -another story for another time.
There are seven of ten opportunity sites open to housing proposals that are not situated on a greenspace. Only one of those sites is currently under consideration by developers and the City. The Arundel greenspace should not be considered surplus or suitable for development, particularly in Thunder Bay where there is a great need to revitalize so many neglected and derelict neighbourhood blocks.
We can recognize the need and value for both housing and greenspaces. These are priorities that should not be in competition with one another. Finding solutions to address housing needs while preserving precious greenspace requires intelligent innovation and vision. The question is, do we have intelligent innovators and visionaries serving in City leadership roles? I hope so.
If you oppose this development in the Arundel greenspace, let your Thunder Bay Mayor and Council know! Copy and paste their emails provided below, and raise your voice.
ken.boshcoff@thunderbay.ca; Rajni.Agarwal@thunderbay.ca; trevor.giertuga@thunderbay.ca; kasey.etreni@thunderbay.ca; andrew.foulds@thunderbay.ca; albert.aiello@thunderbay.ca; brian.hamilton@thunderbay.ca; dominic.pasqualino@thunderbay.ca; michael.zussino@thunderbay.ca; kristen.oliver@thunderbay.ca; shelby.chng@thunderbay.ca; mark.bentz@thunderbay.ca
