What is the Smart Growth Action Plan?
The Smart Growth Action Plan presents a bold and united vision for Thunder Bay’s long-term prosperity.
This is a community plan, developed by the City of Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay CEDC alongside a diverse group of partners. Creation of the plan has been guided by the newly-created Task Force Growth, a coalition of leaders representing local businesses, institutions, Indigenous organizations, utility providers, and community groups.
The Smart Growth Action Plan offers a roadmap of actions to reverse a trend of slow growth in Thunder Bay. It sets a clear path to expand the population, strengthen the local tax base, and create opportunities for residents, businesses, and newcomers alike.
What does the Smart Growth Action Plan mean for you?
| Current residents |
| The Plan is an investment in a shared future, helping to make Thunder Bay a place where families can succeed and neighbourhoods flourish. It is about creating a community where people feel connected, supported, and at home. |
| New and prospective residents |
| The Plan positions Thunder Bay as a city of opportunity - a place to build a career, start a business, raise a family, or find belonging in a welcoming community. |
| Businesses and industry |
| The Plan showcases Thunder Bay’s advantages - a strategic location, a growing workforce, and affordable costs, creating the conditions to grow, innovate, and invest with confidence. |
| Community partners |
| The Plan invites collaboration - aligning efforts across sectors to help shape a welcoming, inclusive, and forward-looking city. |
Read the Plan
The Plan was approved City Council in December 2025. Read it below, click to read in fullscreen.
How is the Plan informed?
The Smart Growth Action Plan was built on feedback from a diverse range of people across Thunder Bay. The current draft of the plan has incorporated input gathered in spring/summer 2025 through focus groups, town halls, targeted meetings, and a public survey. As the Plan is a living document, engagement will continue as the actions are implemented.
Learn more about how feedback was collected and how you can Get Involved in the future.
Questions? Email growth@thunderbay.ca
Task Force Growth
The development of the Smart Growth Action Plan has been guided by Task Force Growth, made up of 25 community leaders and institutional partners who possess a range of expertise on economic and community growth.
Task Force Growth was formed in January 2025 with an initial two-year mandate, and will continue to meet after this plan is approved to review progress, provide input on implementation, and respond to emerging issues as they arise.
The wealth of experience and passion for the community brought by the members of Task Force Growth has been crucial in developing this plan, contributing perspectives from diverse sectors like business, education, health and social services, Indigenous economic development, transportation and utilities.
| Members of Task Force Growth |
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