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
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
Government proposes new policy for federally regulated employees to disconnect from work
In their 2024 budget, the federal government wants to amend the Canada Labour Code, so employers in federally regulated sectors will eliminate work-related communication with employees outside of scheduled hours. If implemented, this would affect roughly 500,000 employees across the country.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.