An artistic rendering of the pool and acquatics centre under construction in Prince Albert. (Submitted photo/City of Prince Albert)

By Susan McNeil

New pool and arena project

Mayor says new pool/arena project probably open in Feb/March

Sep 5, 2024 | 5:00 PM

Confirming some upcoming selected tours, Mayor Greg Dionne says the new pool and arena project should be ready to open to the public in February or March.

He also disputed an online ad claiming the project is overbudget.

“That’s not true.It’s not true, it’s actually the opposite. We probably have about $6 million in savings,” he said on Tuesday.

The budget changed significantly right when the city first took proposals and the construction industry was facing inflation rates of about 30 per cent, he said, but since then, costs have not gone over expectations.

“It came overbudget when we first did it because we got caught in the construction crunch, but no, today it’s not over budget.”

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Staff and the engineering firm hired to oversee the project made changes when the bids came much higher than expected and council decided to borrow the extra $30 million it needed so the building could go ahead.

Council’s plan was to have the twin pad hockey arena and aquatics centres be an anchor in The Yard District at the south end of the city along Highway 3 to create an entertainment district.

Private business have banked on that, buying most of the surrounding lots. One hotel has been operational since December, a strip mall contains the Sasktel Store and will soon open a Firehouse Subs, three other buildings are under construction and a liquor store and second hotel are also planned.

Lake Country Co-op owns three of the lots in that area and a grocery store is also planned.

Two car dealerships will be built as well, according to Signature Development’s website.

However, the city is still working to secure financing for the second part of its plan for The Yard, the construction of a 4,500 seat events centre. The centre would also become home to the Prince Albert Raiders.

The event centre has been brought to ‘shovel – ready’ status with detailed engineering plans completed, but Dionne said it will not be built without federal and provincial grant funding to help pay for it.

“We have a great community, we are finally getting on the economic development map,” Dionne said.

Almost six months ago, the city hired a consultant to lobby the federal government for grant money and is expecting a report back soon.

“When people hear our report, they’re going to be surprised,” he said and added a unique partnership with partners from northern Saskatchewan may also be in the works.

“I’m just so proud of our community because everything we built with partnerships and we will not build the new one without partners because we just can’t afford it.”

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com