'Lots of lessons': Winnipeg learns how to revitalize downtown from former American mayor
Winnipeg's business community, along with several mayoral candidates, received a lesson Tuesday on how to transform the city's downtown.
Mick Cornett, a four-term mayor of Oklahoma City, was a guest speaker at a downtown luncheon.
He was able to transform Oklahoma City's downtown, describing it as once neglected to now vibrant and prospering.
He said to succeed, cities need to be able to attract young educated people to the core, and they will drive the economy.
In Winnipeg right now, it's not hard to find empty storefronts, addictions and homelessness front and centre -- something the city is trying to get back on track.
"Businesses do continue to struggle as they pull themselves out of pandemic survival debt," said David Pensato, the executive director of Exchange District BIZ.
"The quality of life in the suburbs is directly related to the energy of the core," said Cornett.
Cornett said after the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City, the core was pretty vacant, but a program that included a one per cent sales tax to pay for schools, libraries and an arena helped turn things around.
"The core of Oklahoma City had died. They had to reinvest in downtown."
He added the city also had an obesity problem, so they made an effort to make downtown healthier by adding bike paths, sidewalks and parks, as well as a rail system.
"We had built this city around the automobile, from now on, let's build it around people."
These changes, Cornett said, will help bring younger, educated people to smaller markets like Winnipeg as long as the downtown suits their lifestyle.
"They want to live in a place where life is affordable, housing costs aren't extraordinary. They want little traffic congestion."
The luncheon was put on by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown and Exchange BIZs.
"There's lots of lessons that we can take from Oklahoma City given that it is a smaller size," said Pam Hardman, the director of marketing, engagement and communications for Downtown Winnipeg BIZ.
Cornett also had advice for the mayoral hopefuls who were in attendance, downtown needs to be vibrant to attract jobs and people.
"I'd be very leery of a mayoral candidate who didn't understand that," said Cornett.
Cornett added he is in favour of a pedestrian-friendly downtown experience, referencing the debate again about Portage and Main, but noted the culture and safety are the most important things to be focused on instead of just one intersection.
According to a 2021 census, Oklahoma City is the 22nd largest city in the United States.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A 'tragedy that can't be measured': North Bay's forever chemical problem is also the rest of Canada's
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Here's what 'the hinge' move is, how to do it correctly
When you're picking something up from the floor or bending over to tie your shoe laces, you're performing "the hinge move," according to movement trainers.
Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Trump heading to Jersey Shore to rally 'mega crowd' in weekend break from hush money trial
After a long week in court, Donald Trump is heading to the Jersey Shore. And his campaign says he'll be joined by "tens of thousands" of his friends.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.