When it came to development at the waterfront, Elaine Burrows says her late husband “was like a dog with a bone.”
Former Mayor Jack Burrows is being recognized for his contributions to the City of North Bay, and more specifically for his foresight and determination in purchasing the former Canadian Pacific Railway lands.
Councillor Chris Mayne tabled a motion at Tuesday’s meeting to have staff prepare a report to council towards naming the plaza in front of the former CPR station (now North Bay Museum) as “Jack Burrows Civic Plaza,” in appreciation of the former mayor.
Burrows, who passed away in 2013 at the age of 81, received praise from around the council table as the motion was passed unanimously.
Members of the Burrows family were on hand and his wife Elaine spoke with emotion of her late husband. She said it is already a special feeling to visit the former rail lands, and will be even more so when the plaza is named in his honour.
“He would say it was quite a commitment…he thought it was good for the city and good for the people of North Bay and he was going to see it through,” says Mrs. Burrows.
Burrows played a leadership role in the creation of the North Bay Community Waterfront Park on the former rail lands, leading to the restoration of the former CP Rail Station and the creation of the public plaza in front of the former train station.
