The new Sylvan Lake multiplex has received a funding boost from two nearby summer villages.
Jarvis Bay and Norglenwold have each contributed $40,000 to the construction of the Sylvan Lake NexSource Centre.
Despite being seasonal communities by nature, due to their adjacent location to Sylvan Lake they both have many full-time residents and their mayors thought it was important they contribute to the facility.
“We’re a separate municipality, we’re responsible for paying for the services our folks need and it was the right thing to do to contribute to the town because we can’t build those ourselves,” said Jarvis Bay Mayor Bob Thomlinson.
The villages have good relationships with Sylvan Lake, relying on them for a number of utilities and access to other facilities.
“Our residents shop in town, they use the restaurants and they use the facilities, so we certainly felt it was important that we contribute to that process,” said Norglenwold Mayor Carol McMillan.
Sylvan Lake Mayor Sean McIntyre said council is appreciative of the contributions.
“We had known that was there plan to come with the contribution and we’re very happy to receive it,” he said.
The combined $80,000 will go towards the town’s government funding for the project, as officials also chase down provincial and federal grants for the expansive project.
The scope of the multiplex project has been expanded and will now include a new five-sheet curling rink, a senior centre, a civic event centre, child care, multi-purpose rooms and a lobby.
The multiplex will replace and be built on the same site as the Sylvan Lake Arena, which collapsed in January.
“It’s a really big project, it’s going to be, more or less, 60,000-square feet,” said McIntyre. “There’s no restrictions on what we can do within that footprint, and that includes 48th Street, that runs north and south between the arena and the pool right now, may very well be part of the centre.”
There is no estimate on overall cost to this point. The town recently awarded the design contract to CEI Architecture and expects conceptual plans as early as June.
A three-day public design charrett will follow. At that time, they will also be able to come up with a rough first estimate for overall cost.
The town does have a community fundraising goal of $2 million and pledges have reached approximately 35 per cent of that mark.
This includes $500,000 from NexSource Energy for naming rights, $100,000 from winning the Kraft Hockeyville contest and other major contributions from the community, like $15,000 from ATB.
Other local businesses and groups are holding fundraising drives with proceeds going towards the centre.
“We’re really hoping to have that $2 million committed by the end of this year, which I think is definitely attainable,” said Amy Komarniski, the chairperson of the multiplex redevelopment fundraising committee. “The feedback we have got from the community so far is that they want to be involved in this project.”
Much of the old arena structure still stands, however, as the town remains in discussion with the insurance company and all interested parties on completing the demolition. No date is set, though they would like to combine the demolition of the arena and the curling rink.
jaldrich@www.reddeeradvocate.com