Small town of Rodney, Ont. positions itself to attract young Londoners
It is a village that views itself as an undiscovered gem in southwestern Ontario.
The village of Rodney, located smack dab between London and Chatham, is doing all it can to attract youthful residents and families.
The effort is not only through marketing. The village is also undergoing a physical transformation.
Most major roads in town are being rebuilt and beautified, including the main drag.
It is a $5 million gamble to attract new residents and investments.
But the upgrades do not stop there.
Internet service is improved, and nearly $2-million in provincial tax funds have now been secured to upgrade the former community hall.
Plus, in first for this area, Rodney is looking to be the only place electric vehicles can get a charge between London and Chatham.
West Elgin Mayor Duncan McPhail hopes investors and those looking to settle long-term, will notice.
“Now they could look at us and think, "This is a nice little community, maybe we could do business and live in.”'
But businesses often like to go where young people want to be, and it seems not all of them are buying in.
Eric Gormley and Katherine Wiebe are a young couple who currently live in Rodney, Ont. They say upgrades to attract residents aren't enough to keep them in the village. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
Eric Gormley and Katherine Wiebe are a young couple who currently live in Rodney, Ont. They say upgrades to attract residents aren't enough to keep them in the village. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
Katherine Wiebe and her partner Eric Gormley plan to leave the village soon, and unfortunately the upgrades will not change their minds.
“Well, it’s just cosmetics really. There really isn’t that many businesses and jobs here for young people and if you want to go to school, you have to move, so no not really.”
A surprising reaction, some here say, given the housing boom in major centres which has priced many young people out.
Louann Saker came to Rodney from London 15 years ago. She’s noticed more young people in town, but remains baffled why more have not opted to settle here.
“We are so close to the 401, you just jump on the 401, and within 30 minutes you’re in London.”
It is a marketing fact the mayor shares with the young and investors, as he awaits new housing developments.
“When you have young people with young children move to your community, it gives you the opportunity to make your schools sustainable and make your businesses sustainable.”
And in time it just might happen, and if so, perhaps even those determined to leave will find their way back.
“Probably if we had a family or something we would move back because it is nicer to raise in a small family than a city.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.