Grand opening of Baddeck waterfront boardwalk to be held on Thursday

The general public are invited to attend the grand opening and official ribbon-cutting for the new Baddeck waterfront boardwalk this week. The event will take place on Thursday at 2 p.m., The ceremony marks the completion of a significant public infrastructure project undertaken by the Village of Baddeck to replace the original boardwalk that had [...]

The general public are invited to attend the grand opening and official ribbon-cutting for the new Baddeck waterfront boardwalk this week. The event will take place on Thursday at 2 p.m., The ceremony marks the completion of a significant public infrastructure project undertaken by the Village of Baddeck to replace the original boardwalk that had served the community since 1990. As part of the work, the new waterfront boardwalk expands public access to the Bras d’Or Lake, creating new places for people to gather and enhances one of the community’s most important public spaces.

The project features a wider waterfront promenade, expanded public gathering spaces, improved accessibility, enhanced lighting, comfortable seating, natural landscaping and generous waterfront steps that welcome people to experience the Bras d’Or Lake from water’s edge. “Our waterfront has always been where people come together, to meet friends, welcome visitors and enjoy the beauty of the Bras d’Or Lake,” said Jennifer MacDonald, chair of the Baddeck Village Commission, in a press release. “The new boardwalk builds on that tradition while creating new opportunities for people of all ages to gather, connect and experience the waterfront.

It is something our entire community can be proud of.” ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENTS Environmental improvements were also made as part of the project. A new box-culvert and solar-powered aeration system improve water circulation between the harbour and the adjacent pond, reducing the risk of flooding and improving water quality.

Natural shoreline plantings and other climate adaptation features further enhance the waterfront’s long-term resilience. “The Baddeck waterfront is at the heart of this community, bringing people together and showcasing the beauty of the Bras d’Or Lake to visitors from near and far,” said Jaime Battiste, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and member of Parliament for Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, in a press release. “The reinvigorated boardwalk creates a more accessible, resilient and welcoming space that supports local tourism, strengthens the economy and ensures this special place can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

Overall, approximately $3 million was spent on the project with funding through several partners including the federal and provincial governments as well as the Village of Baddeck, Municipality of the County of Victoria, and community donors and local supporters.