Fredericton Mayor Reflects on “Well-Crafted” City Successes Over Past Year
FREDERICTON — In her second State of the City Address on September 9, Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers made the case for Fredericton as “a city well crafted.”
“When I was first elected as mayor over a year ago, I made a vow that I would address key issues in our city. And I said that I would do it by forging relationships with others in the community committed to crafting the best Fredericton possible,” Rogers told guests. “That is what we are doing. We are forging those relationships to make our city the very best it can be. So much amazing stuff is happening here. A lot has happened just the year and the year isn’t even over yet.”
Rogers reflected on the year’s achievements and goals in her effort to make “a vibrant, affordable, healthy Fredericton.”
“If you look at our downtown, it’s all set out in these perfect little blocks. They were surveyed by Scottish surveyor Lieutenant Dugald Campbell in 1786. Fredericton is a gem and we need to be talking about that all the time,” she said.
Rogers said the slogan also describes how council and staff work at city hall.
“All of us here today, we understand that great cities don’t just happen, they don’t just come out of mid-air, they are crafted,” she said.
“Fredericton was ranked as the best city in Atlantic Canada, that’s no accident. Over the years we’ve been thoughtful and intentional and deliberate in our approach to balancing our books and creating a vibrant community,” she added.
Rogers said the ability to deliberately plan is key to Fredericton’s ability to bring about desired outcomes, which she described as returns on investment.
A Growing City
Rogers spoke of the city’s growth, noting that Fredericton’s population jumped by 20,000 people in the last two decades. She also said the city attracted more newcomers between 2016 and 2020 than any other urban center in New Brunswick and that it’s expected to grow by 90,000 in the next two decades.
Rogers said council’s 25-year municipal plan sets out expectations for future growth and creates another return on investment in a growing a city with limited space and strong need for more housing. That’s playing out in all the new residential development happening in the city, from Killarney Park, McLeod Hill, the 12 Neighbours Community, Habitat For Humanity, and the Exhibition Grounds Site Development Plan
Rogers said molding plans for growth around building up healthy density, avoiding urban sprawl, and prioritizing inclusivity and affordability allows for predictable spending on development.
“Just think of those kind of neighbourhoods where there’s a corner store, where you’re close to a bus stop, where there’s walking trails so you can get to work where maybe there’s a school in your neighbourhood. We’re crafting that kind of city,” said Rogers. “We’re shaping a city that’s sustainable and cost-effective to operate, in addition to being vibrant and inclusive.”
Rogers also highlighted Fredericton’s record development activity, with $187 million in development activity in 2021 and 2022 shaping up to be even better. She also alluded to the $88.3 million of residential construction in the past year as the fruits of good planning.
“We’re responding to housing affordability, particularly at a time when inflation is high,” she said. “We can’t grow if we don’t have housing.”
Proactive Planning
Rogers said Fredericton’s proactive approach to infrastructure renewal is another important investment. She said that, like with preventative medicine and maintenance, anything that needs fixing “is a lot cheaper fix,” which means savings for taxpayers and less work, when it’s planned with the city’s future in mind.
“Although it may not feel like it at the time, especially when you’re driving down the street and it’s closed and you see all the orange detour signs, this preventative maintenance is less disruptive for residents in the long term,” she said. She pointed to improvement work on Brookside Drive, simultaneously connecting it with a roundabout being built by the province.
Rogers said ambitious greenhouse gas emission plans that involved halving emissions by 2030, an ambitious tree-planting program, and preservation plans via new heritage bylaw for 2,000 historic buildings are preserving and enriching the city’s character and charm.
The mayor also praised the collaboration the city maintains with local businesses, the chamber of commerce, business development organizations, First Nations, and the provincial and federal governments.
The government collaboration, she said, funds assorted community goals, ranging from recreational infrastructure and a new ICU unit at the hospital, to plans for the city’s new Performing Arts Centre and the Awitgati Longhouse and Cultural Centre, a net-zero off-reserve Indigenous community center in the city.
Rogers noted the city plans to roll out more camera systems to be proactive about crime in businesses and neighbourhoods, keeping public safety at the forefront.
A major plank in the city’s plans includes attracting more physicians and retaining youth, for whom she wants to “craft and create a city with a vibe.”
“Like any of you, when I was attending high school and university… we felt we couldn’t stay here because of a lack of jobs. We thought we needed to leave,” said Rogers. “Many went to bigger cities … but that’s changing. There are many opportunities for young people right here in Fredericton … because of all that our city has to offer.”
Rogers cited Fredericton’s post-secondary options, recreational offerings, cultural amenities and varied businesses as attractors.
“Things are happening in Fredericton. We have made things happen.”
Sam Macdonald is a Huddle reporter in Moncton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].