Finding the silver lining in the Nipigon River Bridge failure

A resident of Nipigon, Ont. wants the world to know that there's more to her small community than a broken bridge. 

The northwestern Ontario township was thrust into the national spotlight recently, when the newly-opened Nipigon River Bridge split apart, temporarily severing the Trans-Canada Highway.

• Ontario's Nipigon River Bridge fails, severing Trans-Canada Highway
• Nipigon Bridge bolts to be tested 
• Nipigon River Bridge delays slow $100M worth of goods

It's been upsetting to hear the community discussed in such a negative light, said Suzanne Kukko, who serves as Nipigon's economic development officer, and who recently took to Facebook to express her frustration over comments on social media. 

"It bothered me to see the word Nipigon used in the same sentence as boondoggle and disaster," she said, adding that people in the community are still proud of the "spectacular" cable bridge. 

But Kukko said there may also be a silver lining to the bridge failure, if it serves to draw more attention to northern issues, and gives Nipigon a higher profile. Perhaps future travellers will remember the high profile story, and stop in for a visit, she added.

"When it's all said and done, the bridge is going to be fixed .... in the end it's going to be a source of pride," she said.