Few public projects have the potential to transform a city like a revitalized waterfront — and few teams know Saint John's shoreline the way we do.
At the heart of the city, Glenn Group led the $20-million revitalization of the public space at Market Slip, renamed Ihtoli-maqahamok — a Wolastoqey name meaning "the gathering space," chosen in consultation with the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick to honour the site's precolonial history as a gathering ground for Indigenous peoples. What was once a tired edge of the harbour is now a vibrant, four-season civic room that welcomes residents and cruise-ship visitors alike.
The design weaves custom four-season patios, interpretive elements, and bespoke seating into a landscape of curved plantings and generous paving, all set against the drama of the Bay of Fundy's dramatic tides. An outdoor stage anchors the space for festivals and everyday gatherings, and strong links to active-transportation networks stitch the waterfront back into the life of the city.
Ihtoli-maqahamok is one chapter of a longer story. For more than two decades, Glenn Group has shaped Saint John's iconic Harbour Passage waterfront trail — and the next extension will carry it from Carmarthen Street to Rockwood Park and Courtenay Bay, continuing a connection that runs all the way from Reversing Falls.
Placemaking, not just features
Inclusive
Accessible design along a steep, tidal shoreline — recognized by the Premier's Council on Accessibility.
Connected
A continuous waterfront trail that links neighbourhoods, transit, and the harbour into one route.
Authentic
A landscape that honours the Wolastoqey name and the natural integrity of a dramatic tidal ecosystem.
Sustainable
Green infrastructure and climate-adaptive design for a resilient, vulnerable shoreline.
A gathering place at Market Slip
The revitalized public space is designed as a central hub — flexible enough for a quiet lunch on a four-season patio, a festival on the outdoor stage, or the arrival of a cruise ship.
Custom seating, interpretive storytelling, and green infrastructure are woven together so the space works hard year-round while telling the story of the place it sits within.
Harbour Passage — a passage of time
"Trails need to lead somewhere." Harbour Passage succeeds because it is far more than a transportation link — its signature red walkway, decorative lighting, and interpretive markers make the whole shoreline a place to experience.
The next extension applies that same architectural motif to a new stretch of accessible, multi-use trail — bridging the gap from Carmarthen Street toward Rockwood Park and Courtenay Bay.
One shoreline, many moments
Harbour Passage is a passage of time, history, and place.Glenn Group · Ihtoli-maqahamok, Saint John
Built on deep local knowledge
A 23-year track record on Harbour Passage means our team brings first-hand knowledge of the corridor's lighting, construction details, and City-approved products — paired with a robust, bilingual public-engagement approach that puts residents and stakeholders at the centre.
Working hand-in-hand with the City's engineering and planning teams, our methodology is one of interactive consensus-building: balancing creativity with feasibility to deliver realistic solutions on affordable budgets and prescribed timelines.