Groundbreaking for new rink scheduled this week

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Recreation and Community Centre at the Steve Omischl Sports Field Complex will take place Thursday afternoon.

The highly controversial building and location will see Mayor Peter Chirico, Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota, and other stakeholders launch the construction of the new facility at 1 p.m.

See: $63M twin pad arena and community centre approved

"The Recreation and Community Centre, which will be one of the first net carbon zero recreational facilities in Canada, will include two ice pads, a spacious community room, a walking track, and 14 dressing rooms to accommodate indoor and outdoor activities, making it a year-round facility," says a news release.

In the early stages of this project, the idea floated called for a $30-million build with a hopeful cost-sharing arrangement with the provincial and federal governments of one-third each. In 2023, a revamped project was proposed and moved to tender at $52 million, with half of that amount poised to be covered by the federal Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program. Less than two years later, the GICB money is still in play but the total cost is $63 million.

BayToday will provide a full report.