Katherine Dugmore, who guided Thunder Bay's award-winning waterfront revitalization project, through its most formative stages, died March 24.
She was 50 and had been diagnosed with cancer two years ago.
Dugmore, the city's waterfront manager, had worked with contractors, designers and developers in producing the master plan and design guidelines for Prince Arthur's Landing and seeing it through construction and substantial completion last year.
The former manager of the City of Thunder Bay's planning department was appointed to the job in 2007.
The $130-million public-privately funded project contains new public buildings, a skateboard park, splash pad, walking trails, a future hotel and condo development, and an extensive collection of locally inspired modern and Aboriginal art.
Born in Kirkland Lake, she held a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree and a Master of Science degree in planning. She was the recipient of numerous design awards for her accomplishments in urban planning and design, including the Terry Fox Monument, located just east of the city on the Trans-Canada Highway.
City councillor Mark Bentz, chairman of the Waterfront Development Committee, said Dugmore brought many talents and qualities to the table.
“She had the ideal background for the job as a landscape architect and a planner. She had worked on similar and important projects in the past so she was no beginner at this. She also brought a tremendous attitude to the job; very proficent, very determined and always open to other thoughts and willing to assess her own beliefs in it. She was continually assessing the project as it went along.”
Dugmore endured her share of public criticism from a core group of citizen detractors who objected to the project's scale and cost. Dugmore and top city officials were mocked in an online website, but Bentz said that only galvanized her resolve.
“Some people just don't do well with such adverse conditions. She, of course, did, and her work is very evident in the quality and how everything came together as planned. With a project of that scale and magnitude, with the timelines involved, I find it incredible to this day.”
In a 2012 interview with Northern Ontario Business, Dugmore found the public debate an interesting and intriguing process. But she realized how “passionate” people are about public waterfronts.
“In some ways, the waterfront generated almost as much interest as siting a landfill would,” she said. “The community did show appropriate interest because what we're doing was a massive change and you are bound to have people active.”
But she had no complaints, saying it kept the process honest and accountable.
“From my perspective, it's been challenging because it adds a whole other layer of planning to the process. The controversy over the residential had me going back and retracing my steps, my logic and my rationale in questioning, is this right for the waterfront?”
The development has already achieved its goal as a catalyst for urban renewal. Trendy new restaurants and nightspots have opened nearby and existing Thunder Bay businesses relocated to the rebranded 'Waterfront District,' well ahead of last June's official opening. The site will host a Delta hotel and two condominium apartment buildings. The city also has plans to open a future arena and convention hall close by.
Bentz said the city fully intends to recognize her contributions at Prince Arthur's Landing in a very meaningful way.
“We're searching for the best way and best place to do that. Those talks began as soon as we heard the bad news. I'm of the belief that we should be doing something significant in that way. She was really key to the project.”
