By Rosalind Russell – A combination of snow load and a subsequent rainfall had caused a four-inch bow to the west wall of the J.H. Burt Memorial Arena in Mindemoya, which led to the arena being shut down, but Central Manitoulin council is moving quickly on repairs.
The arena was shut down in early March due to structural problems, and this week council approved budgeting $150,000 for not only temporary shoring of the facility but also to repair the wall as quickly as possible.
Mayor Richard Stephens says the Providence Bay Arena is accessible as an alternative but adds council will have to look a new facility with both arenas being over 70 years old.
The council also recently passed a motion that 3rd Line Consulting and Perkins and Will be hired to carry out a study at a cost of just over $150,000 as part of the Recreation Infrastructure and Arena planning process.
Stephens says for a community 2,300 can’t afford a new building without federal and provincial funding, so the study will take a hard look at finding alternatives.
A large contingent of residents was also at this week’s meeting.
Spokesperson Marie Ford says they wanted to show council that they want to help to cover the costs to ensure the Mindemoya site is accessible for the summer, and to work together to make sure the 2025-2026 hockey (winter) season is not lost.
Ford says council amended their motion to ask for $150,000 to properly fix the arena, not shore it. It was decided that fixing the west wall 100 percent would be safer.
There was a vote and the mayor was the tie breaker to agree with the motion!
We were all a little overwhelmed and surprised.
There was a standing ovation from the spectators!
Photo of Mindemoya Arena by Marie Ford
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