Sylvan Lake’s multiplex will close April 1 to allow for construction on the NexSource Centre.
The facility is expected to be closed for three months to allow work crews to install a new ice plant and have ice ready for the summer hockey and skating season, which begins July 10.
For many years, Sylvan Lake has been the site of popular hockey camps and those will go ahead, said town communications officer Joanne Gaudet.
Closing the multiplex and its arena will leave Sylvan Lake Minor Lacrosse without a home this summer. Town staff are trying to line up another venue for the teams, she said.
Despite the closure, H.J. Cody High School students will be allowed to host their graduation ceremony at the multiplex on June 3.
Closing the recreational facility was necessary to keep to the tight construction schedule for the $33.5-million NexSource Centre, which is to be ready by February 2017.
The facility includes a five-sheet curling rink, arena, three-lane running track, seniors centre, children’s play and youth activity centres, meeting rooms and a multi-purpose civic space.
It will also tie into the town’s Aquatic Centre, which has been closed since last spring when corrosion in support columns was detected.
The damage was spotted during engineering inspections done as part of the preliminary work on the NexSource Centre. Briefly reopened, the pool was closed again when more problems were spotted and will now reopen.
No sooner was the pool reopened than further inspection turned up other issues, this time with the roof structure. After being open less than a day the pool was closed again on June 2.
Gaudet said progress has been made and it is expected to open later this year on schedule.
“We’re anticipating the fall of 2016.”