The City of North Bay has received a $25.77-million investment from the Government of Canada to help in the construction costs for the new Community Recreation Centre at the Steve Omsichl Sports Complex. The Honourable Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming revealed the details of the funding this morning, at an event at the Omischl Complex, alongside His Worship, North Bay Mayor Al McDonald
The funding will help with the costs of the architecture and engineering design, construction and commissioning of a net-zero-carbon fully accessible 85,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose community and recreation centre.
It includes two ice pads, a walking track, and multi-use meeting space. The multi-use facility is designed to better meet the under-serviced needs of the region with special consideration to citizens with disabilities in the Nipissing area. The facility will allow additional sports and recreational programming that is currently unavailable in Nipissing-Timiskaming due to lack of functional infrastructure. The facility will be fully integrated with the Omischl Sports Complex. Completion of the publicly funded facility will narrow the infrastructure gap in the region.
The project is expected to be tendered in the near future, pending the approval of North Bay City Council.
The funding comes from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities, through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program which aims to build more community buildings and improve existing ones – in particular in areas with populations experiencing higher needs – while also making the buildings more energy efficient, lower carbon, more resilient, and higher performing. This five-year $1.5 billion program will support green and accessible retrofits, repairs or upgrades of existing public community buildings and the construction of new publicly-accessible community buildings that serve high-needs, underserved communities across Canada.
Quotes
“The project will benefit over 75,000 people in the region including those in North Bay, and the surrounding municipalities of Nipissing-Timiskaming. The facility will be utilized for sporting events, conferences and trade shows, group gatherings and other activities, allowing our region to welcome in people from around the province, the country and internationally for these events which will also help our hotels, restaurants and more by providing the services needed for those visiting our area.”
—Anthony Rota Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming
“With approximately 345,000 visits per year, our arenas are the most used recreational assets in our community. This new modern, net-zero carbon and fully-accessible facility will benefit the entire community by providing enhanced recreational opportunities and contributing to the overall health and social well-being of our residents for the next 50 years or more. I would like to recognize and thank MP Rota for his outstanding support for families here in our city.”
- Al McDonald, Mayor for the City of North Bay
Quick Facts
