City Moving Forward with Kenricia Revitalization Project, Authorizing the Certificate of Approval

On May 28, 2026, City Council approved to proceed with the expropriation of the Kenricia Hotel, completing the Certificate of Approval stage, and moving forward with the Registration of an Expropriation Plan.

“A vibrant downtown is important to a community because it acts as the social, economic, and cultural heart of a city. Active and vibrant downtowns help communities grow, attract people and businesses, and create a sense of identity and pride. This building has the potential to have a significant impact on the vitality and attraction to our downtown.  Council identified the need to proceed with expropriation to make changes to this vital piece of infrastructure in the heart of our downtown,” states Stace Gander, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

The City first initiated the process to expropriate the historic hotel on July 24, 2025 as part of its efforts to revitalize Kenora’s downtown core.  The initiative aims to create a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving community space for residents and visitors alike.

The process of expropriation follows the Expropriations Act of Ontario.  Key steps in the process that have taken place thus for include:

• Council Resolution – July 24, 2025
• Notice of Application – July 24, 2025
• Hearing of Necessity – Hearing took place on February 11 and 12, 2026, with closing statements received February 27, 2026.
• April 15, 2026 – City received the Report of the Tribunal delivered by Vice Chair William R. Middleton from the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), who oversaw the Hearing of Necessity.

The purpose of a Hearing of Necessity was to determine if the City has the statutory authority to expropriate the land and building and if it is fair and reasonable for the City to do so for the purposes that include community improvement and heritage preservation. Vice Chair Middleton’s report concluded that:

“In the absence of any definite alternative, beyond speculative notions about the possibility of future collaboration from one or more financial partners (where none has succeeded previously for more than 20 years), the Tribunal accepts that the Expropriation is fair, sound and reasonably necessary for the stated purposes of community improvement and heritage rehabilitation and restoration of the hotel. This is a legitimate municipal purpose which the City is entitled to pursue”

During a Special Meeting of Council on May 28, 2026, Council approved to proceed with the expropriation of the Kenricia Hotel. Next steps, as per the  Expropriations Act of Ontario, are to register for the Expropriation Plan, issue a Notice of Expropriation, and complete an Offer of Compensation, after which time City possession can take place. Estimated possession of the Kenricia Hotel to take place in Fall 2026.

Being an election year, with new Council coming to term in November, Council may enter into a lame duck period effective August 24, 2026. A lame duck period is the time between an election and the inauguration of newly elected officials, during which outgoing Council remain in office. The Offer of Compensation may fall during the lame duck period, which requires the need for Council delegate authority to the CAO and Deputy COA/City Clerk to finalize the Offer of Compensation.

Council has also authorized the CAO and Deputy COA/City Clerk to begin the Request for Proposal process to attract and secure a new developer who has the vision, financial capacity, and capability to invest in the Kenricia Hotel to achieve Council’s goal of enhanced Community Improvement, Economic Development and Heritage Rehabilitation and Preservation.

The Kenricia Hotel has long stood as a downtown landmark, with a central, highly visible location from water, road, and rail. The City’s choice to expropriate aims to revitalize Kenora’s core by transforming the hotel into a vibrant, inclusive community space for residents and visitors alike. Preserving this historic building, an iconic feature of Kenora’s skyline, is essential to our heritage and the strength of our community’s identity.

To learn more and follow updates, visit the Kenricia Revitalization Project webpage.