'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
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
NEW Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.