All systems are a go with your Colchester/Truro civic centre, with a great deal of activity behind the scenes and at the design stages

I am sure that most people have kept up with some of the recent developments with respect to the project, especially those things which are the most public.

One such story that stands out for me was when the Project Steering Committee (PSC) received word from the provincial government indicating that it is not in a position to fulfill its $10-million commitment to the project until 2017.

When this development was made public, a number of people questioned whether the project might be halted, but rest assured that we are continuing to move forward. While this was disappointing news for the PSC to receive, being potentially costly to the project, we came together and reaffirmed our commitment to the project and to the space programming which had already been confirmed.

I am happy to report that PSC members are currently working with the provincial government to resolve this timing issue, and to develop an agreeable payment schedule which will not compromise the project and will be mutually beneficial to all parties.

We are now in the detailed design process for the new civic centre, and while this is perhaps one of the most exciting stages, it is also one which requires a great deal of care and refinement to ensure that the final product will meet the needs of our entire community.  The design and construction committee are deeply involved in the micro-planning phase of the design process and are now considering mechanical and electrical systems such as the ice plant, electrical and heating systems and pool construction options to be incorporated into the centre. Initially, we had hoped to unveil final designs during public information sessions in June and July, but we now expect to deliver them in August.

Our construction managers, PCL, are finalizing the details of the Class B costing and designs. To clarify PCLs role in the project, they are responsible for design and building analysis, and management of the construction. In essence, they are the watchdogs for the project, ensuring that we receive the facility we have undertaken to build for our community at the cost we have agreed we can afford. Perhaps most importantly, PCL will continue to monitor project costs, will keep their fingers on the pulse of what is happening with the tradespeople who will be essential to the timely completion of this project and will co-ordinate tendering for the project.

As a sneak peak at where the committee is with respect to the design process, it should be noted that there have been a few alterations to the original space programming. Initially, it was anticipated that we would have a 3,200-seat arena. It has now been found necessary to reduce this to 2,600 to 2,700 because of cost and design considerations. I should note that for events and trade shows we will have the ability to accommodate upwards of 3,500 people. All other facility components are consistent with early designs and will be discussed in detail at the public presentations in upcoming months.

If you have any questions or comments that you would like to share, we can be reached through our website www.ignitethespirit.caor by email at ignitethespirit@colchester.ca

By Jason Malloy

TRURO – Town council has put a contingency plan in place in case the province takes longer than anticipated to fund its share of the new civic centre.

Town council passed a motion yesterday authorizing its two civic centre steering committee members to be able to increase the town’s share of the project by up to $960,000. It is a 10-per cent increase of the town’s previous commitment of $9.6 million.

The town and Municipality of Colchester were surprised about a month ago to find out the province was not going to be able to meet the original timetable for paying its $10-million share of the project. The province said in a letter it would pay its full share by 2017, compared to the original timeline by 2012. The change would increase the project price by $1.8 million in carrying cost for the town and county.

Coun. Greg MacArthur, who is a co-chairman for the civic centre steering committee, stressed following Monday’s meeting the project’s budget has not increased. Steering committee members are trying to arrange a meeting with municipal relations minister Ramona Jennex to discuss the issue.

“If we get the $1.8 million settled, you shouldn’t need this money at all,” he told the Truro Daily News.

The funds enable the committee to continue to move the $50-million project forward, knowing the money is there if needed.

Some councillors voiced concerns about the project potentially coming in over budget and pushed the committee to ensure that doesn’t happen.

“Once we start spending the money, where are we going to stop?” asked Sharron Byers, the only council member to vote against the motion. “I have a great deal of concern as to whether or not is this the final (increase) and there’s nothing to indicate it is.”

The project will be tendered in segments, which also raised concern for Byers.

“Once this is started we won’t be turning around,” she said. “We can’t leave a building partially finished.”

Other council members were supportive of the request.

“We have an opportunity that doesn’t come by very often,” said Coun. Diane Bennett-Cook, referring to the $10 million the federal and provincial governments have each committed towards the project. “I think we have to trust our committee … They’re not going to put us in a position that we can’t fund this.”

MacArthur said the committee has a company working as its construction management firm for the project, which is hoped will keep the project on budget.

Kathy Sutherland (left) and Dave Ritcey accept a cheque for $10,000 on behalf of the Ignite the Spirit Campaign in support of the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Project from the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce President Chantele Hache and Executive Director, Tim Tucker.

The Truro and District Chamber of Commerce “Ignited the Spirit” of Colchester last evening at their 1st annual “Best of Colchester Awards.”  More than 280 nominees were presented in 25 categories and online voting determined winners. More than 19,000 rounds of voting were submitted for the competition during the two-week voting period.

Also at the award ceremony, the chamber of commerce revealed it made a $10,000 commitment over three years to the Ignite the Spirit campaign in support of the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Project. 

“We’ve made this commitment because we believe a new civic centre will bring direct and indirect spinoffs in large quantities to our local business community,” said chamber president Chantale Haché.

Jon Stanfield, Chair of the Ignite the Spirit Campaign adds “ we are very thankful for the Chamber’s commitment to the project and their understanding of what this centre will do for our community.  Their early leadership is a testament to the belief the members of the Chamber have in this project, and it will go a long way towards setting the stage for a successful campaign.”

The bands confirmed for the June 12th event are:

- Broke on Payday

- Beyond Ash

- Shameless

Tickets are $20 and will be available at the Engine Room.  For more details check out the Engine Room website http://engineroompub.com/ or give them a call at 895.5151

• Event facility with an NHL sized ice surface
• Aquatic Centre – Competitive and leisure pool
• Walking track
• Fitness centre
• Multi-purpose community space
• Rock Climbing Wall

The Project Steering Committee hopes to share conceptual designs with the community in early June, they have been working with the Architects and Construction Management Team to ensure a well thought out, and uniquely designed facility is built.  That being said, we have only one chance to do this right and are looking at every inch of the proposed facility to ensure everything flows well and elements are where they should be.  The Architects are now at a pivotal point where they have taken the designs to their structural and mechanical engineers to confirm that the design meets building code regulations and that it can be built without serious changes. 

So, what does this do to our construction schedule?  Fortunately, we are still able to move ahead with site preparations in late June, early July and then construction to follow shortly thereafter.  Prior to beginning site preparations, a mandatory environmental screening of the site is required as a condition of federal funding; this is scheduled to be completed by June.  In the end, it is still anticipated that we will have a new recreation and wellness centre by fall, 2012! 

Since December, a number of studies and much background work has been going on behind the scenes.  A traffic impact study was completed and presented outlining traffic patterns and parking requirements in and around the Exit 13 site.  A business plan was completed to ensure that design decisions are consistent with the long term financial stability of the facility.  The Project Steering Committee and the Architects are now beginning to explore the potential to target a silver designation through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. 

LEED is a third-party certification program and an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health:

• sustainable site development
• water efficiency
• energy efficiency
• materials selection
• indoor environmental quality

To obtain LEED silver, we are currently looking at a number of sustainable components to include in the design, a few examples include: the incorporation of wood products, renewable energy systems, and innovative lighting systems to reduce light pollution.  There are countless benefits to achieving LEED silver and we are looking forward to reducing our carbon footprint and delivering an environmentally friendly facility. 

In conclusion, the project is moving at a rapid pace and we are anxious to present the designs and for construction to begin.  If you have any questions or comments that you would like to share, we can be reached through our website www.ignitethespirit.ca or by email at ignitethespirit@colchester.ca.

Civic Centre project co-chair Bob Taylor notes “we were certainly surprised by the Province’s position to extend their payment period.  The Project Steering Committee immediately took action, promptly responded to the request asking the province to re-consider and revert back to the payment schedule of the original agreement and we are currently in the process of attempting to finalize the details.”

 The Civic Centre, expected to open fall 2012, is expected to include a 2700 seat event stadium, NHL sized ice surface, walking/jogging track, aquatic centre, fitness centre, multi-purpose/professional space, community meeting space, climbing wall and a number of other amenities to meet the needs of Central Nova Scotia residents. 

“There are obvious financial implications associated with extending the payment period” says Greg MacArthur, project co-chair. “We as a committee have identified these implications and are taking the required steps to move forward.  The last thing we want to do it reduce the space programming, we are committed to building to the budget delivered in November, 2009 and we have to respect that” adds MacArthur. 

To date, funding from municipal, provincial and federal governments has totalled $ 44 Million.  A $5 million community capital campaign will top off the funds required for the proposed health and wellness facility that is expected to open in fall, 2012.

A heart can be made of bricks and mortar.  And a lifeblood composed for steel and glass.  But what pumps energy and vitality into any community is the quality of the interactions its people enjoy.  Which is why this world class development will be so much more than a place to meet,  swim, skate, train, and play.  It will be a place of interaction, of conversation, of community.  And it will ensure the continued growth and prosperity of this place we call home.

As members of the community, we have often heard the comment “It’s just going to be another hockey rink,” In fact; it will be so much more.  A centre for entertainment and recreation, for personal and team sport, for health and wellness, and a place of family and community gatherings, the new Civic Centre will become a social and economic nucleus of our Region.  The unique design of the proposed 150,000 sq ft. facility will embody the Region’s culture, history and ethnic diversity.  We have seen what similar facilities have done for other communities, like Port Hawkesbury and Summerside.  In addition to the flurry of excitement and activity the addition of these community facilities have engendered, they have also introduced new and exciting opportunities that would not have been possible before.   

It is safe to say there will be something for everyone.  The Aquatic Centre will house an eight lane competitive pool coupled with a leisure pool to meet the needs of all user groups.  This Centre has been designed with both competition and personal sport in mind so whether it is for rehabilitation, swimming lessons or a competitive meet, the Aquatic Centre will be able accommodate the activity.

There will be ample community and public space, which has been designed to be warm and welcoming.  This versatile space will accommodate a variety of activities from rock climbing to art classes to the meeting of local clubs and societies.  It will provide an inviting space to gather to watch an event, to compete, to meet friends for coffee, or to sit in the open areas and enjoy the facility.

The arena and event venue will have an NHL sized ice surface, a 3 lane walking/running track and state of the art capabilities to host large events and tradeshows.  The Centre’s convenient central location near exit 13, and its distinctive design, will make it a destination for sport, recreation and business for our region.   

The preliminary designs have the fitness centre overlooking the Aquatic Centre.  It will be equipped with the latest in weights and cardio equipment so whether the goal is personal health or elite athletic training, the inclusion of the fitness facility will play an essential role in the development of healthy lifestyles and a healthy community.

Our new Civic Centre will be so much more than an amalgam of what we have now – not just  a hockey rink nor simply a new pool, our Civic Centre  will be  a place for our community to gather, play and thrive.  It will provide a lasting legacy of a healthy and active population, and it will provide residents of all ages a world class facility to call their own.

To celebrate National Volunteer Week the Town of Truro invited the community to nominate individuals from their organizations whose contributions greatly enhance the quality of our lives and whose volunteer commitments have made a significant impact in our community. A panel of judges reviewed the nominations and scored them based on time commitment and the number of organizations the nominee volunteers with.  Mr. Hunt was selected and will now attend the provincial Volunteer Awards Ceremony in Halifax.

“Terry brings to the table a lot of experience in terms of his involvement and his participation in both recreation and organized sports for many, many years” says Paul Smith, Project Manager for the Civic Centre Project.  “What’s really key is his interest in the future of recreation throughout the Region and his desire for all people to have access to modern facilities so that they can continue to grow on that front.  He’s not motivated by self-interest.  He’s motivated purely by the best interests of the community.”

The civic centre project steering committee congratulates Terry on his very deserving award!

1.      Is there going to be enough parking on the Exit 13 site?

By far, this is the number one question that we get asked, it is top of mind for the Project Steering Committee and rest assured we have been doing our due diligence on this component.   We have been working closely with the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal and are in the final phases of completing a traffic impact study which will help define on-site parking needs.  Project architects, Shore Tilbe Perkins Will in partnership with Nova Scotia based John K. Dobbs have created a preliminary schematic design that maximizes parking capacities and the Project Steering Committee are very pleased with the initial concept.  Will there be 1000 spaces? No, but we will ensure a realistic and adequate amount of parking is provided to meet the needs of the facility users and take into consideration large events, swim meets, hockey games, trade shows and all of the exciting activities that will take place in the facility. 

2.      Why are we building a competitive pool?

The need for a 25 meter, 8 lane pool has been identified through countless community meetings with the User Group Space Programming committee led by volunteer chair, Terry Hunt.  Furthermore, a 2005 study conducting by dmA Consultants confirmed that the demand for improved/increased aquatic facilities among the general public was high.  Given our central location in the province, it was important to offer an amenity that will accommodate the needs of provincial and regional level swim meets.  The proposed pool has been designed to meet competitive swimming needs in accordance to FINA Pool Standards and will offer ample seating to provide a comfortable viewing environment.  While the pools in Truro and Colchester have served us well over the last three decades, it was made very clear new and updated facilities were needed to accommodate the growing needs and expectations of the local swimming community and beyond.   

3.      When does construction begin and when is the Civic Centre expecting to open?

Construction on the 150,000sq. ft health and wellness facility will begin with site preparations this Spring.  It is expected that the facility will open in the fall of 2012. 

In closing, the people of Central Nova Scotia have recognized for years that new and updated facilities are needed in the Region to address an emerging relevance and focus on health and wellness, in addition to traditional and growing needs in sport and recreation.  We are well on our way to building a facility that will reach out beyond the offerings of a traditional sports and recreational facility and aim to meet the needs of all constituents. The civic centre will be more than just sport; it will be a social and economic nucleus within the Central Nova Region.