A Buffalo boy, currently living in Ireland, reached out to BRO and asked if we would take some updated photos of the progress being made at the East Canal at Canalside. He asked to see the bridge placements and wanted to know if the canals had been watered yet.
Yesterday, before heading to the opening of 716, I decided to take a swing around the East Canal to take a look. While the canals have not been watered, the bridges are securely in place, and the infrastructure surrounding the bridges looks to be almost complete (walkways, stairs, lighting, etc.)
The East Canal is finally starting to take shape, and for the first time visitors can get a sense of what it’s going to be like when this section of the waterfront is opened to the public. You can almost envision people skating on the canals, and then walking over to the new Tim Hortons headquarters to warm up and grab a cup of coffee (or 716 for that matter). Notice that the new Tim Hortons statue has been installed at the corner facing the donut and coffee shop.
As for the overall activity of the area, our friend from Ireland wanted to know if there was an influx of people roaming around. Not yet. While Canalside certainly commands a crowd during the warmer months, the cooler seasonal amenities are only just being implemented. Personally, I can’t wait to see the first Metro Rail filled with ice skaters. Their arrival to an area of the city that is normally a dead zone in the middle of winter will be refreshing to say the least. With some sparkling lights in the trees, and people walking along the bridges with coffee and hot chocolate in-hand, the East Canal could become a magical winter wonderland in no time flat.