Council Meeting Recap– October 27, 2025

Major Improvements Ahead for Brookdale Avenue

On October 27, Council endorsed the recommended plan for some significant changes to Brookdale Avenue from Seventh Street West to Fourteenth Street West. Key recommendations in the plan include for a new two-lane roundabout and closure and consolidation of this intersection with the one further south at Seventh Street Court. There will also be a midblock pedestrian signal at a location coinciding with the approximate centre of the existing traffic circle, which is to be removed.

The Brookdale Avenue and Ninth Street West intersection will be improved with eastbound and westbound double left-turn lanes. Further north at the Twelfth Street West intersection and Rosemount Avenue intersection there will be a midblock pedestrian signal, and changes coming to the Thirteenth Street West/Vincent Massey Drive Intersection include a new northbound left-turn lane.

There will also be active transportation enhancements, including continuous sidewalks along both sides of Brookdale Avenue, and dedicated cycling infrastructure proposed in the form of cycle tracks on both sides of Brookdale Avenue.

The important commercial avenue has seen a series of infrastructure improvements over the last 15 years, and the final portion of work is due to needing to address deteriorating pavement, and enhancing traffic flow and safety. The recommended plan was presented by Vanessa Skelton, Transportation Planning and Traffic Engineering Lead from GHD. Next steps include proceeding to detail design of the preferred alignment, obtaining permits/approvals as required, and tendering the project to contractors for construction.

City Endorses Mayor Towndale as Regional Committee 2nd Vice-Chair

Council voted to endorse Mayor Justin Towndale as a 2nd Vice-Chair to the Ontario Regional Advisory Committee of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. The initiative represents communities along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River on both sides of the border, advocating on matters including commerce and the environment. Towndale was asked by the initiative to put his name forward, as 2^nd Vice-Chair to amplify its voice and engagement in Eastern Ontario is being sought. The organization has been involved in the trade disputes between Canada and the U.S., recently sending delegates to Washington, D.C.

Bird Friendly City Update

Council received a report on Cornwall’s Bird Friendly City certification status, which is currently Entry-level City under Nature Canada’s Bird Friendly City program. Council voted in favour of completing all necessary actions to support re-application in 2027, and to pursue initiatives and activities that could see the City take flight towards a potential Intermediate Level certification.

Certification is a national initiative to recognize cities that take meaningful action to protect and support bird populations. Certification is awarded based on performance across the categories of threat reduction, habitat protection, and community engagement.

By-Laws Passed to Renew Existing Lease Agreements

Council passed two by-laws as part of renewing an existing lease agreement between the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation and the City. The first one-year agreement is for the management corporation’s permission to use the leased land for the construction, maintenance and utilisation of a pedestrian/bicycle path across the Cornwall Canal at Lock 19. The other is for a parcel of Canal Reserve land at the area known as the Kinsmen Soccer Fields on Second St. W. The lease agreements have existed since 1991.