The seemingly endless saga of a new rink for North Bay was the clear winner as 2023's top story in a year-end poll conducted by BayToday.
It finished with almost a quarter (22.5%) of the 1,482 votes cast over a four-day period.
Where does the arena project stand now?
North Bay City Council voted to move toward a revamped twin-pad arena and community centre project in late December 2023.
Despite initially setting a $52-million upset limit for the project, the council approved a proposal — when adjusted for an approximate premium of 20 per cent for the net zero-carbon build — that is estimated to cost upward of $60 million.
City of North Bay staff is preparing a design proposal to be issued over the next few months, as part of an RFP process, in an attempt to complete the build in 2025 while fulfilling the net zero-carbon requirements to receive nearly $26 million in federal funding.
Earlier in 2023, a trident-shaped community and recreation centre project was shelved as bids to build ballooned to more than $70 million.
The second spot went to MP Anthony Rota (18.6%) resigning as House Speaker after becoming embroiled in scandal by inviting a former Ukraine soldier, who fought for the Nazis, to Parliament.
The third spot went to the housing and homelessness challenges facing the area (9.5%). That topic finished first last year.
Rounding out the top five.....this area having the second worst air quality in the world because of forest fires last summer, and the outrage caused by efforts by the Near North School Board to rename Chippewa Secondary.
See all poll results here.
Stay tuned for our Newsmaker of the Year coming next.
With files from Stu Campaigne.
