Kincardine council has approved a grant funding request submission for the floor replacement project at the Davidson Centre.
Staff was looking for approval to submit the grant funding request to the federal government under the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF).
The existing arena floor is beyond its useful lifespan of 50 years, and a replacement would otherwise have to be part of the municipality’s capital budget if grant fund can’t be obtained.
The Davidson Centre, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in September 2025, has been undergoing a number of renovations and retrofitting to add to the lifecycle of the building, which is a recreational hub for the Municipality of Kincardine.
If successful, the BCSF Local Impact Stream will fund up to 50 percent of the eligible project costs, up to $1 million as a non-repayable grant.
Eligible projects for the funding must be shovel-ready, completed within two years, and demonstrate community impact, and economic benefit.
In its report, staff had identified that the floor replacement project met the criteria for the grant funding, and securing such a contribution would ensure that the project would be completed within two years, while also preventing the use of the current ice surface floor to be used to the point of failure.
The estimated cost for the work at the Davidson Centre is $2.3 million, based on a 2025 estimate for direct construction costs, asset procurement, and engineering.
The upgrade is being conducted on a design-build basis.
Staff has already had preliminary discussions regarding project timelines with the refrigeration contractor.
The project would aim to start construction in the spring, with completion in the fall for the resumption of regular ice activities.