Busy in Bridgewater

The following blog was contributed to novascotialife.com by Donna Hatt at White Point Beach Resort. You can follow Donna on Twitter.

There’s been a lot of excitement lately about the growth being experienced by the Town of Bridgewater and surrounding area along the LaHave River. Some think there must be something in the water, others attribute the success to being in the right place at the right time, but as a resident of the area and a volunteer with the Bridgewater Development Association (BDA) – I know it’s a combination of all the above with a lot of hard work to make this success happen.

 Powered by a numerous volunteers who serve on the Board and many Action Teams, the BDA has been in business for about the last 5 years with a mandate to facilitate development of the area. And they’ve been busy. Through the combined efforts of the BDA, the Town of Bridgewater and many, many partners, the Town has observed solid growth.

Reaching back a bit one of the most memorable developments for me was when Empire Theatres opened in the “old” Sobeys Grocery Store once the “new” store was complete. We’d gone far too many years without a cinema and to have an Empire 7 was a big thing. Much more has happened since..

There’s been active and increased industrial, commercial and residential development – expansions and new construction which have been exciting to watch.

While there has been growth in the Business Park, the real dramatic change has been the Glenn Alan Subdivision area. This once completely wooded area near the hospital and downtown is now bursting as a residential and recreational area.. There’s the new, well used Field House with indoor soccer field and a walking track. Plans call for a new skate park fuelled by the BDA’s Youth Action Team. The Centennial Trail conveniently runs through all of this. The new mixed residential homes in the area have been very popular and growth continues.

On the other side of the river, construction is underway for a new apartment development. There’s the new Provincial Court House, the NSCC Lunenburg Campus expanded and now houses the Luneburg County YMCA. Plus there’s the Shoppers Drugmart expansion, Lawton’s Drug Store is getting a new home and this is only the tip of the iceberg.

Even before most of this development was taking place, in 2006, Bridgewater enjoyed a population boom of 4.2% growth while those around it were declining. It is safe to say, we’re expecting another healthy growth in population numbers in the next Census too.

Being a volunteer with the BDA during the Bridgewater Retention & Expansion Program a few years ago, it was energizing to be a part of laying the groundwork for setting the priorities for charting growth for Bridgewater. Being a volunteer with the Marketing & Development Action Team today, it is even more exciting as we continue to realize our collective vision for our community.

We’ve done well. With the BDA as a catalyst, we’ve harnessed the dedication, support, commitment and investment by businesses, politicians, investors and residents alike. It will be exciting to showcase our growth, achievements and plans for the future at our upcoming Celebrating Success Breakfast on April 22nd from 7:30 – 9:30am at the Michelin Social Club.

For more information check out our new site, www.growbridgewater.com!