A new arena and library complex in Blackfalds is starting up this month, after an eight-week construction delay.
The new Eagle Builders Centre will be opening its new arena to minor hockey users on Nov. 10, and to Junior A teams on Nov. 19, said Sean Barnes, community services director for the town.
The new library in the complex will also be opening just after Nov. 19, once its shelves of books are installed.
Barnes said these kinds of delays “are becoming the norm in a COVID world,” where there are a lot of supply chain shortages.
Things such as overhead doors and the air handling system arrived later than expected.
Although the centre wasn’t ready in September, as initially expected, Barnes still believes the project launched in July 2020 was built in reasonably good time — and none-too soon, considering the high demand for more ice time.
Even with the additional rink opening, ice bookings for this winter are 100 per cent full in prime time, he added. “There’s so many requests, it’s unreal.”