Arena evolves into multi-use centre.

Englehart-What began as an idea to build an arena has turned into a plan for a multipurpose recreational complex for the community of Englehart.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

In the early 1990s, the town commissioned a feasibility study specifically for a new arena. However, in order to get funding from the SuperBuild Sports, Culture and Tourism Partnerships initiative, a provincial and federal funding program, the project had to meet certain criteria. So the plan was revised, mushrooming into a multi-purpose complex. That made it eligible for a Super-Build subsidy of 40 percent.

The community's fundraising to date is in excess of $1.2 million, comfortably over their target of $1.1 million. Of that amount, $400,000 was contributed in 2001 by the Frog's Breath Charity Golf Tournament. This year, the Englehart project has been named as a co-recipient, along with the Temiskaming Hospital CAT scan fund, for the proceeds of the 2005 charity event, says Charles Hebert, director of parks and recreation.

The town will take $350,000 from reserves and borrow another $600,000 to pay for their portion of the build.

As a design-build project by MacDonald Brothers Construction out of Ottawa, the 33,350-sq.-ft. arena has been constructed to meet the needs of all of its community members.

To be completed in October, the facility has a price tag of about $3.76 million.

There will be a learning centre for Information Technology to enable people to take distance courses, and a 1,000 sq. ft. multipurpose room that can house fitness classes, weight training and exercise machines.

Hebert says the room can be converted for other uses, such as breakout rooms for conferences.

The 10,000 sq. ft. upper level will house a hall overlooking the ice pad, complete with kitchen, bar and bathroom facilities and a boardroom.

The walking track that was incorporated around the perimeter of the ice pad is a unique feature.

Hebert says the idea for the track came from public information sessions that occurred in 2000.

"As we have an aging population in Englehart, the need for an area to walk safely in and away from the elements was one of the things they stressed," he says.

Hebert says he believes it will be a very practical facility for their area, as it is located at the juncture of Forest Street and Seventh Avenue where the old arena stood with schools nearby.

"The high schools and two primary schools can access the arena for the skating program as part of their Phys. Ed. classes," Hebert says.

Originally, they wanted a swimming pool for the facility, but geotechnical investigations proved the site wasn't feasible.

With the exception of the pool, the construction has been on target and they have been able to incorporate all other facets of the proposal.

It has also generated some business for regional and local businesses involved in the demolition of the old arena and the aggregate industry. North Bay Steel-Wood Erectors assisted in erecting the building.

As the project nears completion, Hebert says public input into the project has been positive.

"It's given us a good base to list the different elements we wanted to see incorporated into the project and we have achieved that."

www.englehart.ca

By ADELLE LARMOUR

Northern Ontario Business