The Province is funding the new Bracebridge Multi-Use Community Centre to the tune of $16.8 million.
Premier Doug Ford made the announcement at a stop in town today off Salmon Avenue where the new complex will be built.
“We are proud to invest in this state of the art, multi-use Community Centre that will serve the great people of Bracebridge for decades to come,” he said. “I want to congratulate Mayor (Graydon) Smith, the Bracebridge Town Council, the District Municipality of Muskoka and MPP (Norm) Miller for all the hard work they did to make this day happen.”
Specifically, the funding will support construction of the Bracebridge Public Library and the Multi-Sport Field House as part of the overall Bracebridge Multi-Use Community Centre.
Today’s $16,862,234 million announcement comes via the Strategic Priorities Infrastructure Fund (SPIF) – Priority Local Infrastructure stream, while the Town will provide more than $42.8 million toward the estimated cost of the entire project.
“This is welcomed news for the Town,” says Mayor Graydon Smith. “With this significant contribution from the Provincial Government, the Town can proceed with the full build of the Multi-Use Community Centre in a single phase. The co-location of facilities and services offers the opportunity for a landmark multi-use community centre, providing the community with a state-of-the-art, multi-generational social hub that consolidates community activities and services under one roof.”
One of the factors that helped realize today’s funding was the fact the existing Bracebridge arena is over 70 years old. The new project includes a new single pad arena.
“After 70 years and many governments prior to us ignoring this region – we aren’t about to ignore the great people of the Parry Sound-Muskoka area,” said Ford.
“Everyone here in Bracebridge knows that both the local arena and library are old and outdated and the community needs new facilities,” added Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norman Miller. “That is why I am so happy to see our government support the construction of the new Bracebridge Multi-Use Community Centre. The provincial funding will allow for the whole planned facility to be built at one time. The construction will create jobs now and the community centre will benefit families and the community for years to come.”
The new Multi-Use Community Centre will house a single pad arena, community hall, public library, multisport field house, concession/café, outdoor playground, trails and open spaces. At the same time, to meet future community needs, an area for a second ice pad is being retained to allow for its construction to be integrated directly into the facility.
The program mix will consolidate community activities and library services to respond to increased density and the demographic and cultural realities of a growing community. The facility will attract users from across all demographics in the region and offer opportunities as a place of convergence, sponsoring new activities and interests, as well as fostering volunteerism and community partnerships.
The facility is inclusive, using principles of universal design, and provides visual connections between programs and activities, sparking interest and promoting participation throughout the community, irrespective of age, ability, ethnicity or income.
On September 16th, 2020, Bracebridge Town Council unanimously approved the 100% design development for the new Bracebridge Multi-Use Community Centre, as prepared by MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects (MJMA). The 100% design development was used in the development of construction documents for the Multi-Use Community Centre.
The Town’s architectural services team, MJMA are finalizing construction documents and it is anticipated that the General Contractor will be retained in September 2021 with an estimated construction completion
date of summer 2023.
“This funding from the provincial government is a critical step forward in making the entire project a reality,” adds Mayor Smith. “As we move towards construction tendering, we are getting ever closer to the finish line on a project that will be transformative for our community and all of Muskoka.”