News about funding for Assiniboia鈥檚 new arena and sports complex appeared optimistic this month, when Premier Scott Moe revealed some updates regarding the financial backing for the arena during his visit to Assiniboia on Sept.10 at the town鈥檚 Public Works Shop.
鈥淟ast week when the premier was here, he said the rink had been given provincial approval and is now in the final stage needing federal approval,鈥� said Curtis Nelson, who represents the non-profit charity, the Assiniboia Civic Improvement Association.
The Assiniboia Civic Improvement Association has raised funds and applied for grants to build the sports complex. The organization鈥檚 entire directive is to cultivate finances to provide for renewed cultural, recreational and sporting facilities in Assiniboia.
鈥淭he Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program was the grant we applied for,鈥� Nelson explained. 鈥淲e applied back in May for this grant.鈥�
The projected cost for the sports complex is an estimated $15.7 million, but the Assiniboia Civic Improvement Association has set the entire budget at $17 million for possible overruns. The federal portion will amount to $6.92 million once everything is finalized, while the province is providing $5.2 million.
In addition, Nelson reported that money was raised for the project from local sources as well and included municipal, corporate and personal donations. These funds have been substantial, proving the community鈥檚 ample generosity.
鈥淲e raised over $5 million. It looks like everything has been paid for,鈥� Nelson said. 鈥淏ut we were told to expect a 10 per cent contingency fund. For any major construction projects of this size, there will be a 10 per cent overrun,鈥� Nelson said before describing the necessity of requiring a contingency fund within the budget for the modernistic rink and sports complex.
A potential contractor to build the project has also been selected. 鈥淲e put out a request for proposals,鈥� Nelson recounted, adding that nine contractors had made submissions to construct the project in the lot north of the Prince of Wales Cultural and Recreation Centre. 鈥淲e鈥檝e chosen our preferred contractor,鈥� he said.
Wright Construction Western Inc. of Saskatoon was picked to build the complex, but a contract won鈥檛 be signed until the grants are approved. Wright Construction were chosen, because this firm built Merlis Belcher Place 鈥� the University of Saskatchewan鈥檚 arena. Merlis Belcher Place was completed in 2018, replacing the university鈥檚 90-year-old Rutherford Arena.听听听 听
Wright Construction also assembled the Chief Denton George Memorial Multiplex on the Ochapawace First Nation.
The public in Assiniboia and district further complemented the rink project with some of their own ideas.
鈥淲e鈥檝e added some other stuff to the rink based on suggestions from the public,鈥� Nelson said.
Public suggestions to be included in the project upon completion will incorporate a rink with a walking track, a teen centre and a pickleball-sized gym.
鈥淚f the federal approval comes through within a month, we can start construction and have the building erected by next spring,鈥� Nelson said. However, the project in entirety was estimated to be completed by February 20, 2022, if all goes to plan.
Nelson believed the sports complex would take about 16 months of building to finalize in entirety. 听听听听
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