THUNDER BAY – A bevy of city facilities including the Canada Games Complex are set to reopen this fall, following protracted COVID-19 closures.
The reopenings, approved by city council on Monday, also include child care centres, arenas, community centres, seniors programming, and more.
The moves will bring a hefty but uncertain price tag – nearly $300,000 in 2020 just to reopen the Canada Games Complex, with other expenses still being calculated.
Coun. Rebecca Johnson expressed discomfort approving reopenings when councillors “don’t have a clue how much it’s going to cost” in some cases, but said the programs were important enough to the community to merit the step given the exceptional circumstances.
Canada Games Complex
The complex is expected to operate between 25 to 60 per cent capacity, depending on activities.
The Thunderbolts swim club and Thunder Bay Diving club each briefly addressed council to support the reopening.
It’s expected to cost the city $293,296 to operate the complex from September through December with COVID-19 restrictions in place.
Child Care
City child care centres, meanwhile, are anticipated to operate at only 34 per cent capacity due to cohort caps and potential shortages of staff and space.
Some centres have been operating since July, while the city expects to reopen its Ogden and Woodcrest centres in September.
The city is putting a priority on accepting preschool age children, with its ability to offer before and after school care for school age children to be determined. The city is still awaiting feedback from school boards on whether shared spaces used in schools for such programming will be available this year.
The reopening of the Ogden and Woodcrest centres is expected to cost the city at least $31,000 per month, but could range significantly higher.
Arenas
Meanwhile, the city hopes to reopen five more arenas – Current River Arena reopened on Aug. 17 – in mid to late September. COVID-19 restrictions will slightly reduce available ice time, already in high demand.
The city is also looking to support the return of the Fort William Curling Club to the Fort William Arena, with an update expected by mid September.
55 Plus Centre
A reopening plan for the 55 Plus Centre and older adults programming at the West Arthur Community Centre is under review by the city, with a tentative reopening date of Sept. 14. and programs resuming Sept. 24.
The process will be informed by results from an online survey, designed to gauge demand and comfort levels of users.
Community Centres
The city-operated Vale and Jumbo Gardens community centres are anticipated to open in late September, while board-operated centres at North McIntyre, Oliver Road, Current River, and West Thunder have been approved to reopen as well.
