Latest news with #TrevorBazinet
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Affordable housing in Goderich won't be rebuilt after a fire, warming centre opens for displaced residents
An apartment building in Goderich that consisted of 18 affordable housing units will not be rebuilt after a weekend fire. Around 2 a.m. on Saturday, crews responded to the Nelson Street building and evacuated other homes on Brock Street as a precaution. According to Goderich Mayor Trevor Bazinet, the third level of the building had to be demolished for the Fire Marshal to enter for a proper review of the property. goderich fire - aug 2025 An apartment fire in Goderich, Ont. displaced 26 residents in 18 units. Aug 2, 2025. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) He said the building itself will be demolished and owner is not planning on rebuilding and selling the property. 'What we would like to do is when the property is sold, have a conversation with the new owner, a lot of communities are struggling with affordable housing, this is something that we would like to see developed in that area because that's what was in place at the current time,' said Bazinet. A total of 26 people in the 18 units have been displaced and are currently in the care of the Red Cross with help from Huron County social and property services. A warming centre has opened at the Knights of Columbus at 390 Parsons Court for the displaced residents. Here's how to help Bazinet said there has been a steady stream of people coming to town hall and sending messages asking how to help. '[I'm] always proud of our community whenever there is a time of need,' he said. Town Hall is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Bazinet said town staff are in council chambers rotating every hour to accept gift cards. 'We might think we know what the people need but its actually the people that know what the people need — so we figured gift cards is the right approach so they can purchase whatever they need whether it's clothing or materials or just some groceries and some food.' 'It's been a steady lineup here at town hall which is incredible and we're receiving cash donations as well,' Bazinet added. Goderich's Emergency Control Response Committee is meeting Tuesday afternoon to determine next steps. — with files from CTV NEWS London's Bailey Shakyaver
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Affordable housing in Goderich won't be rebuilt after a fire
An apartment fire in Goderich, Ont. displaced 26 residents in 18 units. Aug 2, 2025. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) An apartment building in Goderich that consisted of 18 affordable housing units will not be rebuilt after a weekend fire. Around 2 a.m. on Saturday, crews responded to the Nelson Street building and evacuated other homes on Brock Street as a precaution. According to Goderich Mayor Trevor Bazinet, the third level of the building had to be demolished for the Fire Marshal to enter for a proper review of the property. He said the building itself will be demolished and owner is not planning on rebuilding and selling the property. 'What we would like to do is when the property is sold, have a conversation with the new owner, a lot of communities are struggling with affordable housing, this is something that we would like to see developed in that area because that's what was in place at the current time,' said Bazinet. A total of 26 people in the 18 units have been displaced and are currently in the care of the Red Cross with help from Huron County social and property services. Here's how to help Bazinet said there has been a steady stream of people coming to town hall and sending messages asking how to help. '[I'm] always proud of our community whenever there is a time of need,' he said. Town Hall is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Bazinet said town staff are in council chambers rotating every hour to accept gift cards. 'We might think we know what the people need but its actually the people that know what the people need — so we figured gift cards is the right approach so they can purchase whatever they need whether it's clothing or materials or just some groceries and some food.' 'It's been a steady lineup here at town hall which is incredible and we're receiving ash donations as well,' Bazinet added. Goderich council is meeting Tuesday afternoon to determine next steps. — with files from CTV NEWS London's Bailey Shakyaver
CTV News
02-08-2025
- General
- CTV News
Apartment building fire leaves residents displaced in Goderich
Damage seen from an apartment fire in Goderich, Ont. on Aug. 1, 2025. (Source: Phil Main) Damage from an apartment building fire in Goderich Friday night has left residents displaced. Emergency responders said around 11:20 p.m., they responded to the incident on Nelson Street. As of 2 a.m. Saturday, firefighters were still on scene. Residents and the public are asked to stay away from the area. Residents were evacuated on Brock Street and Nelson Street East because of the blaze. A warming centre was opened at the Knights of Columbus building. Goderich apartment fire Damage seen from an apartment fire in Goderich, Ont. on Aug. 1, 2025. (Source: Phil Main) No injuries have been reported. Nelson Street is closed between Cambria Road North and Albert Street. In a news release, Goderich Mayor Trevor Bazinet said: 'We are relieved to report that no injuries have been sustained from this incident. The well-being of our community members remains our top priority, and we are thankful for the quick response of our emergency services that made this possible.' For those wanting to support affected residents, Bazinet said gift card donations can be made instead of food items. 'Gift cards for groceries and essentials can provide affected families the flexibility to meet their specific needs during this difficult time,' he said. 'Gift cards may be dropped off to Town Hall, 57 West Street, this Tuesday (Aug. 5) to Friday (Aug. 8), 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.'
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Goderich Memorial Arena, likely to reopen, but not as arena
Safety and accessibility concerns prompted the closure of Goderich's famed Memorial Arena this January. But there's new hope that it will reopen. 'I'm hopeful that you will see the Memorial Arena not as an arena, but as a community center moving forward in our community down the road,' said Goderich's Mayor Trevor Bazinet. 061625 - Memorial Arena Goderich Mayor, Trevor Bazinet, standing in downtown Goderich as seen in June 2025. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) A consultant's report following extensive public input is recommending reopening Goderich's Memorial Arena as a multi-purpose facility. It will possibly be home to things like shuffleboard, basketball and indoor soccer, along with a community meeting and event space. The initial price tag to reopen the facility is estimated to about $90,000. The price tag for a full repurposing of the former arena into a community centre is somewhere between $11 and $14 million. 'It's a very difficult subject for everyone in town to confront. I love this old girl, everybody does. But we have to make financial decisions that are fiscally responsible,' said Goderich resident Steve Buchanan. 061625 - Memorial Arena Goderich resident, Steve Buchanan speaking outside the Goderich Memorial Arena. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) Buchanan would love to see the 75-year-old facility saved, but it can't come at any price, he contends. 'Just half of that 14 million bucks over a five year period would require about 178 bucks per citizens of Town of Goderich to finance just half of the 14 million bucks,' he said. Bazinet said while Goderich council has not made a decision on the exact future of the town's Memorial Arena that had been operating as a community centre since the ice was removed in 2018, he believes repurposing the existing structure sounds like the good plan. 061625 - Memorial Arena Goderich's Memorial Arena, currently closed, due to 'safety and accessibility concerns." (Scott Miller/CTV News London) 'We're not going to build something new. The structure of the current facility right now is fine. So, we're going to continue on with that facility. There's a lot of emotional attachment with that facility in the community. Can we change some things? Definitely. There's a comprehensive plan that was provided a lot of amazing things that we can consider,' said Bazinet. Buchanan believes if the repurposing plan becomes too expensive, demolishing the old arena is the next best option. 061625 - Memorial Arena Possibly layouts for repurposed Goderich Memorial Arena. (Source: GSP Group/Town of Goderich) 061625 - Memorial Arena Possibly layouts for repurposed Goderich Memorial Arena. (Source: GSP Group/Town of Goderich) 'If we can't do that, then let's turn it into housing. It's a perfect spot in this neighborhood. Perfect place for housing. Overlooks a park. The province right now is in a position to help municipalities out to build more housing. So that's the thing to do. But for God's sakes, make a decision and stop spending money we don't have,' he said. Bazinet said Goderich council is currently waiting to hear back from numerous service clubs. They've expressed interest in possibly raising funds towards a refurbished and repurposed facility before making a final decision on the future of the old Memorial Arena. 'I think it's important to work with our service clubs. They're the ones that are going to be using the facility quite a bit. And if we can form some type of partnership with them, then I think it's a win win for everybody,' said Bazinet.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Businesses urging customers to return as downtown construction hits one month mark in Goderich
Part of Goderich's Courthouse Square is under construction, which is impacting the number of visitors to the famed downtown, as seen on June 10. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) A lot's been accomplished in the past month, since work started on Goderich's Courthouse Square. But the bulldozers and dump trucks have certainly kept some people from venturing downtown. 'The traffic has slowed down, because people are thinking that things are not open on the Square, considering that we have all the fences up and whatnot,' said Jenny Iles, from the Den Juice Co. The $11 million project to replace 100-year-old water and sewer pipes under Courthouse Square in Goderich has closed down vehicular traffic for about a quarter of the square and it's a little louder downtown, but every single downtown business is still open, said Goderich Mayor Trevor Bazinet. 061125 - Goderich construction Part of Goderich's Courthouse Square is under construction, which is impacting the number of visitors to the famed downtown, as seen on June 10. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) 'Yes, there's construction downtown. Yes, it's a little disruptive, but you can still come downtown. You can drive three quarters of the square if you want as well. You can walk the entire square still,' said Bazinet. Bazinet said Goderich's downtown stores need support now more than ever, because this is just year one of a two-year project that will see a quarter of Goderich's famed Courthouse Square roadway ripped up at a time. 061125 - Goderich construction Part of Goderich's Courthouse Square is under construction, which is impacting the number of visitors to the famed downtown, as seen on June 10. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) 'We had the Pride Festival here on Saturday, and there were people everywhere enjoying themselves, just like there was no construction. So, please come to our downtown. Our businesses need to see you,' said Bazinet. While Goderich's core businesses understand that the work needs to be done, no one is happy about the obvious disruption that it's clearly having on their bottom lines. 'We completely understand that the work has to be done. If you look outside at some of the pipes that they have extracted, looks like it was due for them to come out,' said John de Jager from De Jager Pharmacy in Goderich. 061125 - Goderich construction Part of Goderich's Courthouse Square is under construction, which is impacting the number of visitors to the famed downtown, as seen on June 10. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) 'It's work that needs to be done, for sure. I mean, we want to grow Goderich and the population, and there's infrastructure work that needs to be done. So just, you know, rolling with it,' said Tim Damon, from the Den Juice Co. 'Is it something that we want to do? No, we don't want to do it, but it has to be done. We have to replace these things over time. It is going to be a painful process, but we just want to continue to send that message that the businesses are open and it is safe to be up here,' said Mayor Bazinet. Construction is expected to be completed on Goderich's Courthouse Square over the next two years, with the final top coat of asphalt laid down in 2027, in time for the town's Bicentennial. You can follow weekly progress on the project by visiting the Town of Goderich's website.
