Mayor promises minimal disruption during St. James Civic Centre expansion

Users of the St. James Civic Centre will be forced to tolerate periodic closures as the popular facility undergoes a $17-million expansion, just two years after a renovation kept it closed for 30 months — but the mayor promises the disruption will be kept to a minimum this time around.

“The residents of St. James and west Winnipeg, who use that civic centre, have experienced closures which were beyond expectations and I thank them again for their patience,” Gillingham said.

“Certainly the goal of the expansion project would be that construction related closures would be limited and as brief as possible.”

The 57-year-old civic centre has an indoor pool, large rink, fitness centre and auditorium. It was closed from April 2020 to September 2022 while it underwent a $10-million update to its structure, arena slab, lighting, electrical and mechanical systems. Construction was only scheduled to last 14 months but was hampered by repeated delays. The only up-side was that it took place during the pandemic, when public health orders limited socialization.

St. James Coun. Shawn Dobson agrees there will be no repeat of that level of service disruption.

“The last one was a different project. This one is fine,” Dobson said. “I don’t think we’ll be anywhere near the amount of closures.”

The expansion, which will begin in the winter and be completed by fall 2026, includes a new kitchen and multi-purpose and meeting rooms, improved viewing area for the pool, administrative space and shared program space for the St. James Assiniboia 55+ Centre, improvements to the auditorium, building entry, and washrooms as well as upgrades to the parking lot.

Justin Steeves, president of the St. James Junior Canucks team, admits he’s a bit nervous about potential delays.

The Manitoba Major Junior Hockey team, which won the championship last month, was knocked out of the facility for two full hockey seasons during the 2020 reno.

“To be honest, the scary thing from my end is I don’t really have much information,” Steeves said.

“We got an email early this year about short-term closures, but that’s it. I have not heard from any city official.”

Steeves said he hopes to know more about the schedule.

“The challenging part is they need to let us know soon because if we have to, we need to secure ice elsewhere for games,” he said.

“Ideally, they will do work from May to September, after our season ends, but it does say it is starting (in the) winter.”

The 55-plus Centre will be able to move from the third floor at the Deer Lodge Centre. A spokesperson for the organization could not be reached for comment.

“I’m excited that this facility will increasingly be a multi-age facility,” Gillingham said. “It will have seniors and older adults coming to enjoy programs while grandchildren are taking swimming lessons and others are taking skating lessons.

“It is a very exciting project.”

Dozens of residents who attended an open house or gave their input in an online survey asked for renovations to the pool change rooms, including the addition of family change rooms. The mayor said there isn’t room in the budget.

He said the cost of the project has jumped by $3 million.

Neither senior level of government has agreed to boost funding. The province is chipping in $4.4 million and Ottawa is contributing $5.2 million.

“Right now we will have to go it alone,” Gillingham said, noting that since the funding agreement was made the city’s contribution has jumped to in excess of 40 per cent from 27 per cent.

“If there was more funding available, from senior levels of government, we could look at doing more work.”

A city spokesman said upgrading to universal change rooms would mean “an additional expansion to the facility, estimated at $2.8 million.

“The current phase of expansion looked at upgrades in other areas of the building and did not include work in the pool change room areas. The city will aim to include change room improvements in a later phase subject to available funding.”

The spokesman said the original renovation included a universal bathroom and other accessible washrooms that are available anyone who needs privacy or space.

Residents can see the final design at an information session on May 16 from 4 pm. to 7 p.m. or at http://wfp.to/ynq

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca