THUNDER BAY – A long meeting at Thunder Bay City Hall ended with a 10-1 vote in favour of moving forward with the Thunder Bay Event Centre. Neebing Ward Councillor Lynda Rydholm voted no, and Councillor at Large Ken Boshcoff abstained from the final vote.
The move forward on the Event Centre has come after a fairly long process with presentations to Council, public meetings, and reports from Administration along the path forward.
Committee of the Whole accepted the final Phase 3 Feasibility Study Report for the Proposed Thunder Bay Event & Convention Centre just before midnight. The Council meeting was not broadcast or live-streamed as the
With Phase 3 now complete and subject to ratification by City Council, the City can now pursue confirmation of Federal, Provincial and private sector capital construction funding.
“Phase 3 was about due diligence,” said Michael Smith, General Manager – Community Services. “The extensive work completed to date, including public consultation, was essential to prepare the project and maximize government and private sector funding.” Phase 3 was supported with funding contributions from FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation in the amount of $1.3 million.
The Final Report included:
Overall project vision
Facility Schematic Design to 20% detail level
Total estimated capital costs & Proposed Guaranteed Maximum Price to Build
Updated Business Plan & Economic Impact Assessment
Updated Parking & Traffic Report, and the
Final Ipsos Reid Public Opinion Survey
Phase 4 focuses on the submission of detailed Federal and Provincial funding applications and confirmation of private sector funding. Administration expects to have responses to the applications by March 2015. Moving to Phase 4 however, does not represent a final decision to proceed to Detailed Design and construction of the proposed facility. All future phases are still subject to Council consideration and approval.
