Community Centre retrofit project dependent on grant funding

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

At an Aug. 19 meeting, Taber council discussed a funding commitment for the modernization and expansion of the Taber Community Centre. The administration asked council for approval to pursue the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program (GICB) grant from Infrastructure Canada and acknowledge a potential Town commitment of up to $2 million in funding from the capital reserves. The federal funding is offered as an 80/20 split on an amount of up to $10 million.

Taber’s arena is more than 50 years old and near its expected end of life cycle. The administration applied under the first intake for this funding stream in February 2023 and were unsuccessful in securing grant funding. The Government of Canada announced an upcoming second intake on Sept. 4 under the same funding program. The administration asked to review and revise the initial grant applications and remove the existing small ice surface and replace it with a new ice surface. An additional goal is to modernize the aging facility.

 In 2017, the Town hired a consultant to investigate the feasibility of using the small ice arena well into the future. The investigation determined that various aspects of the rink were in visibly poor condition, including many operational and safety issues. The estimate to repair the identified deficiencies was more than $1.5 million in 2017, or now more than $2.5 million in 2024, based on an inflation rate of 69 per cent as noted in the cost estimate.

 The existing small ice arena falls short of building code and safety standards. For example:

-the access ramp from the dressing rooms to the ice surface also serves as a fire egress for spectators. The ramp doesn’t meet current building code, as it is too steep. Fire egress is also blocked by the gate that goes onto the ice surface.

-the fire alarm system is not sufficient for the space and requires an upgrade to meet current building code.

-the current board system does not meet safety standards for full contact hockey. Regulation height of boards is 1.22 metres and the current boards are much higher making it too dangerous to play full contact hockey.

-the ice surface is not regulation size and is not usable for official tournaments or games.

 Equipment condition and operational issues include:

-the board system has a radius too tight to flood the corners of the arena, making the corners rough and dangerous for users.

-the board system is in poor condition with cracks and gaps in all the sections, creating safety hazards.

-the concrete floor is cracked in several places, isn’t level, and some areas have rebar and brine cooling lines exposed. The floor also does not have a heat floor, and because of this heaving or cracking is more likely.

 After a presentation by Facilities and Energy Manager Blake Hranac, there was little discussion and no debate about the idea. Coun. Sorensen took the lead on the motion to apply for the funding and acknowledge a potential $2 million commitment from capital reserves. Council approved it unanimously.