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
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.