Off the beaten path: Chapleau investing in tourism, mining activity.

• Author: Kelly, Lindsay
• Position: NEWS

The Town of Chapleau got some good news in January, when FedNor announced it would provide the town with $836,500 in FedNor funding for a trio of projects designed to energize the town and boost economic development in the region.

The largest chunk, $535,000, will go toward a waterfront renewal project that Mayor Michael Levesque hopes will invigorate the town's attractions and draw more travellers to linger longer.

"One of the goals of this project is to create linkages between the downtown and the waterfront. We don't have that right now," Levesque said. "Tourists will pass through very quickly. Now they can buy whatever they want to buy and come down to the beach at the same time."

Developed in conjunction with Tulloch Engineering and Toronto-based EDA Collaborative--the same landscape design firm behind Sudbury's Elgin Greenway --Chapleau's waterfront concept will include a railroad-themed splash pad and playground, a swimming area with floating docks, and a new boat launch.

"We have a boat launch now, but it's so old," Levesque said. "So we're going to re-: move it to include brand-new docks and a paved turnaround and parking space, especially for tourists--a place to park overnight."

A pavilion that was installed by the local Rotary Club in the 1990s has been under-used, Levesque said, and so part of the waterfront upgrade will include adding tiered seating, LED lighting and landscaping, to make the pavilion area more attractive for hosting events.

The project was supposed to start last summer, but addressing engineering details delayed the project by a year. Now, it's expected to take two years in total.

Tenders for the work were released in early February, and Levesque expected the town would choose a contractor this spring.

Because Chapleau is located off Highway 101 between Timmins andWawa, Levesque hopes the project will renew in tourists an interest in taking a break, spending some time in town, and spreading their dollars through Chapleau.

"The idea was to have a focal point, a gathering point in the community," he said, noting that cottage owners typically drive through town without stopping to get to their properties.

"The beach was...