Top 5 Biggest News Stories in Mississauga in 2016

While a lot of ink has been spilled about the ills of 2016, the year wasn’t all bad. It had its fair share of downs (some major ones, to be fair), but it was also, in some ways, a good one for the city of Mississauga.

There were, of course, some low notes. Troubled people intentionally blew up their home, destroying other homes and displacing multiple people in the process.

And on an icy December night, up to 40 cars slid into one another, causing chaos and incredible property damage.

While those were some low notes, the city also welcomed some big developments and moved forward on exciting new initiatives.

All in all, it was an interesting year in Mississauga.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest stories of the year.5) 40 Car Pileup on the 410 in Mississauga

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On Dec. 28, the roads became unexpectedly icy and an absolute traffic nightmare ensued. The poor driving conditions prompted an absolutely massive pileup on the 410 exit ramp at Derry Road in Mississauga. Fortunately, there were no fatalities–in fact, there were no major injuries at all. That said, 15 people did end up in the hospital and many drivers sustained significant damage to their vehicles.

You can take a look at the destruction here.

4) Peel School Board Approves Master Plan for Britannia Farms

For years, people have been wondering what the plan is for the historical Britannia Farms property in Mississauga. On Dec. 12, the Peel District School Board (PDSB) announced that it approved the Master Plan that proposed the site become home to an outdoor educational facility. According to the board, the Master Plan recommends student-focused environmental and agricultural programs, the establishment of landscape zones, a development parcel that will be 32 acres in size and phased public access in partnership with the city of Mississauga. That 32 acres is known as the development parcel will, ideally, generate some revenue—especially since the land is near the future site of the much-anticipated Hurontario LRT. All in all, people were excited to see the Master Plan approved. It’ll be equally interesting to see what becomes of the development parcel.

For more info, click here.3) The City Moved Forward on Inspiration Lakeview and Inspiration Port Credit

The city’s Inspiration Lakeview and Inspiration Port Credit projects are ambitious and, above all else, exciting. This year, we heard good news about both. On Saturday, Sept. 24, residents were invited to a BBQ and celebration at the Lakefront Promenade Marina (135 Lakefront Promenade) to herald the start of construction of the Lakeview Waterfront Connection Project. The ambitious project is set to transform a more lackluster section of the shore into a naturalized conservation area. You can learn more (and see some artist renderings) here. In terms of Port Credit development, the city also announced that the Imperial Oil lands were sold. In terms of what might be coming, the Port Credit BIA told Facebook readers that proposed developments on the site include condos, townhouses, affordable housing, shops, businesses, a community centre, a beach, a town square and waterfront parkland.2) M City

In September, Rogers Real Estate Development Ltd., a private holding company owned by the Rogers family, announced that it’s planning to erect a massive $1.5 billion condo community right in the heart of the city. M City (you can see the recently unveiled sign at Burnhamthorpe and Confederation) is a 10-tower, 15-acre, 4.3 million sq. ft. community that will feature over two acres of public parkland (we all know green space is a big deal). The plan is ambitious and vast and will be overseen by a number of firms, including Urban Capital, the Cooper Robertson architecture and urban design firm, the CORE Architects architecture and interior design company, Cecconi Simone interior design company and Baker Real Estate Inc. The community is designed to fit into the city’s lofty but slow-moving Downtown 21 plan and is, for all intents and purposes, intended to further the city’s transformation from a semi-urban bedroom community to a richer, denser urban space.

To learn more, click here.

1) Hickory Drive House Explosion

While much has been said about this devastating event, it’s impossible to deny that it was the biggest story of the year in Mississauga. On June 28, the city was rocked when a house on Hickory Drive exploded, killing the two homeowners and destroying nearby properties. Yesterday (Dec. 30), authorities revealed that the explosion of was intentional and the result of natural gas inside the home. No evidence of any type of explosive was located, and several witnesses reported smelling natural gas on properties adjoining the residence up to one and a half hours before the explosion. As of now, 33 homes remain unoccupied as a result of the incident.

To learn more, click here.