Transformation of Thunder Bay's south core set to begin with demolition of Victoriaville mall

Thunder Bay, Ont.'s south core will see some major transformation in the coming months, with the long-planned demolition of Victoriaville Shopping Centre.

The city announced this week that the demolition is scheduled to begin in April.

"The project was just issued for tender over the weekend, with the tender closing later in March," said Aaron Ward, manager of the city's engineering department. "This is carrying on from the direction provided from council to demolish Victoriaville Mall and to reopen Victoria Avenue, from Archibald Street to Brodie Street."

That will allow the city to begin reconstructing the area, including building new public plazas on either side of Victoria Avenue.

"Part of the construction and the design details for Victoria Avenue also includes some design features to allow the street to be closed for public events," Ward said.

Reconstruction work is expected to begin in spring 2026, with the project's completion scheduled for fall 2026, the city said.

"The intent of this project ... is to get more traffic to the area, both vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic," Ward said, adding the mall has not been full in terms of tenants for quite some time.

"We've been working with the adjacent business owners as well and the tenants to keep them informed of this project just so they could work hand in hand with us to try to ... repurpose their spaces," Ward said.

How will demolition affect businesses?

Scotia Kauppi, owner of Sweet Cherry Spa, which has been in Victoriaville for several years, and vice-chair of the Fort William Revitalization Committee, said the city will replace the spa's doors and windows.

"They're also putting in a separate entrance for me so I can access without having to worry about my clients having to go through a construction area," she said. "But I will have to be closed for that time."

But there are still some uncertainties in terms of how businesses will be affected by the demolition and construction work.

"If it gets too loud, I might have to close down," Kauppi said. "If we can't work in that kind of loud environment, we are trying to be proactive and maybe having like silent services, and we'll have ear buds in and just kind of go, 'Oh, OK, we're not going to really chitchat today — you can listen to your podcast and I'll listen to mine.'

"But even then, if it's still too loud or jarring, then I'm going to have to temporarily close down for a day or two."

Overall, however, Kauppi said the project is a good thing for the south core.

"I think it will open up the area and businesses like mine will still be OK," she said. "It might seem new and fresh and and catch the eye of other businesses, just instead of being in a in a mall that kind of has a poor reputation."