The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is "99.99 per cent certain" they'll be opening the doors of Gibsons' new arena and community centre by March 15.
The Gibsons and Area Community Centre is on target to stay within its budget, with a final projected cost of $12,389,800, though the new opening date puts it a month and a half behind the original schedule. Whereas the aquatic centre in Sechelt was held up by sub-trade delays and mistakenly using the wrong pool tiles, the Gibsons centre is running behind due to the same trades shortage, the Christmas break and winter weather, which SCRD general manager of community services Paul Fenwick said could continue to pose a problem. As of Monday, construction crews were preparing to begin the parking lot, while inside workers were drywalling, painting and doing cabinetry and finishing work.
The grand total excludes "furnishings and fittings" - things like the arena seats, the boards, and even the electric Zamboni. That's where the community comes in - through donations totalling $42,200 so far, donors and fundraisers are playing a large role in helping with those purchases. The final price tag for the aquatic centre in Sechelt came to $10,349,200, with $72,173 worth of donations poured in by the community. The total cost for both projects is $22,739,000, with no provincial funding towards either one.
On opening day, visitors to the centre will walk in through the front doors to a spacious lobby with a gas fireplace and squash and racquetball courts off to the side. The spacious feel of the building is maintained throughout, explained Carleen McDowell, the SCRD's recreation manager for Gibsons and area. "We didn't have to skimp on circulation space here like we had to at the aquatic centre," said McDowell, referring to the change rooms at the Sechelt pool being downsized to increase fitness studio space. The arena will have six dressing rooms, each of which can be used by men or women. But it's the new ice on the Coast that may come as the biggest relief to hockey players.
"Until demand grows, we anticipate the last teams will be off the ice each night by 10:30 p.m.," said McDowell. The first ice slab is expected to be poured within a couple weeks, she added. SCRD communications co-ordinator Kathleen Elliot said the arena and community centre will keep operating costs low through advanced heating, plumbing and ice-making systems that could cut energy consumption by up to 30 per cent and reduce water use by 80 per cent. Some programs at the centre are set to begin March 1. Elliot said these will either be delayed or moved to a different location on the Coast, such as one of the halls owned by the SCRD. After the centre's fees and charge bylaw goes to the SCRD board next week, the financial viability of the centre over its first year should become a little clearer, Fenwick said.
"The SCRD has never operated buildings of this size before, so it's really based on projections," he said.
