TORONTO, Aug. 20, 2013 /CNW/ - With less than two weeks to go before nominations close, there are now 35 locations across the country vying to be named one of this year's Great Places in Canada.
The competition is fierce, and some interesting races are shaping up. British Columbia has the greatest number of nominations, Ontario is a close second, and then it's neck and neck between Saskatchewan, Alberta, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories.
Three locations will be selected as the 2013 Great Places grand winners - one in each of the public spaces, streets, and neighbourhoods categories - based on both popularity and planning excellence as judged by a panel of experts. In addition, there will be three People's Choice Awards based solely on the number of votes.
Riverside Park in Cambridge, ON has garnered the most votes so far, and is the leading contender in the category of Great Public Spaces. The Saint John City Market, NB, is in the number two position, both in overall popularity and in the public space category.
Wortley Village in London, ON, has quickly zoomed up the ranks and is now the top pick for this year's Great Neighbourhood. Mounting a serious challenge for this title is St. Jacobs, ON.
Lacombe, AB, population approximately 12,000, may be the Cinderella story. Its Historic Main Street is currently leading the Great Street competition - ahead of Winnipeg's Portage and Main, Montreal's Saint Catherine Street, Kelowna's Bernard Avenue and Vancouver Island's Malahat Drive.
"But we know from previous years that these results can change, especially during the final days, as local residents and media really get behind their communities. So stay tuned," notes Michael Gordon, President of the Canadian Institute of Planners which hosts the annual contest.
Here are the nominees to date:
| Great Public Spaces | Confederation Park, Port Coquitlam, BC |
Great Streets |
| Riverside Park, Cambridge, ON |
Penticton Downtown Market, Penticton, BC |
Portage and Main, Winnipeg, MB |
| Rideau Canal, Ottawa, ON |
The International Summer Night Market, Richmond, BC |
Lacombe's Historic Main Street, Lacombe, AB |
| Withrow Park, Toronto, ON |
Lake Koocanusa, Lake Koocanusa, BC |
Saint Catherine Street, Montreal, QC |
| The Distillery District, Toronto, ON |
Nanaimo Harbour, Nanaimo, BC |
Malahat Drive, Vancouver Island, BC |
| Civic Square, Kitchener, ON |
Seawall, Nanaimo, BC |
Bernard Avenue, Kelowna, BC |
| Mary Lake / Port Sydney Beach, Port Sydney, ON |
Somba K'e Civic Plaza, Yellowknife, NT |
Great Neighbourhoods |
| River Landing, Saskatoon, SK |
Blanchett Islands, Great Slave Lake, NT |
St. Jacobs, ON |
| Meewasin Valley, Saskatoon, SK |
Saint John City Market, Saint John, NB |
Wortley Village, London, ON |
| Long Beach, Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island, BC |
McAdam Train Station, McAdam, NB |
Cookstown,ON |
| A-Maze-ing Laughter Sculptures at Morton Park, English Bay, BC |
Parlee Beach Provincial Park, Pointe-du-Chene, NB |
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| Victoria's Inner Harbour, Victoria, BC |
The Red Deer Public Market, Red Deer, AB |
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| English Bay Beach, Vancouver, BC |
Victoria Park, Truro, NS |
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| Rocky Point Park, Port Moody, BC |
Greenwich National Park, PEI |
If you want to enter your favourite street, neighbourhood or public space in the competition, go to www.GreatPlacesInCanada.ca and submit your nomination before the close on September 2.
Voting will stay open until September 23, 2013. The winners will be announced on World Town Planning Day, November 8, 2013.
Follow Great Places in Canada on Facebook and @GreatPlacesCA on Twitter for regular updates.
SOURCE: Canadian Institute of Planners
For further information, visit www.GreatPlacesInCanada.ca or contact:
Nathalie Khouri
[email protected]
416-777-0368
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