The city’s arena committee has put out a call for proposals of interest on a new city arena.

Community Services Committee chair Mark King says there’s plenty of interest.

He says they have 5 proposals and so they have called on anyone to present a proposal to a committee meeting next Wednesday at noon at city hall.

He says the proposal must include a viable option that could be used as a site.

‘We’re looking at all options that are available in the best interest of the taxpayer and the community. We want to make sure that we make the right decision based on solid information.”
Two of the proposals are well known and those are the Omischl Complex or behind Memorial Gardens.

The Near North District School Board has offered the city property at West Ferris Secondary School as a possible arena site.

Board chair David Thompson says there’s 30 acres available.

Thompson says the school board wants to partner with the city as this is happening across Ontario.

“Whether they are arenas, swimming pools or other facilities. So we shouldn’t be any different.”

He says the board passed a motion to work with the city on developing a partnership.

The city has put the arena project into the 2018 Capital budget and says the arena could be operational in 2020.

Filed under: arena, Mark King, West Ferris Secondary School