London’s Wortley Village has picked up a grand prize and was also the people’s choice winner for Great Neighbourhood while Goderich’s Courthouse Square was the people’s choice for Great Street.
They were among five locations named as winners among 68 nominations in the Great Places in Canada contest run by the Canadian Institute of Planners.
More than 100,000 votes were cast across Canada over the four-month contest period to help determine the winners.
Old South/Wortley Village took the grand prize for Great Neighbourhood on the basis of both popularity and planning excellence, as judged by a panel of experts.
Jaspal Marwah, a member of the judging panel, said in a statement that the area stands out because it is “an excellent example of a place where one can walk and bike to work, school and recreation, and also enjoy a diversity of housing options so residents of many ages and circumstance can contribute to their community.
“Here, local business thrives, friendly conversation abounds, and community efforts bring an enduring vitality to the village.”
The grand prize for Great Street went to Lacombe, Alberta’s Historic Main Street. But, Goderich’s Courthouse Square took the People’s Choice Award in the same category.
The win for Goderich is especially encouraging as it continues to rebuild after a devastating tornado that struck in August 2011
In the final category - Great Public Space - both winners were from New Brunswick, with the grand prize going to the Saint John City Market and the McAdam Train Station taking people’s choice.
You can find more information on the contest here: http://www.cip-icu.ca/
