Pictou County Wellness Centre deficit worth it, New Glasgow mayor says

Despite running deficits that tally $2.4 million since opening three years ago, the mayor of New Glasgow says he considers the Pictou County Wellness Centre is a "tremendous piece of infrastructure" that's important to the community.

The centre ran a $813,637 deficit in the past fiscal year, but Mayor Barrie MacMillan said that's what's needed to attract new people to the community and keep existing residents. 

"Infrastructure relates to sustainable communities," MacMillan said, pointing to the 55+ Games recently held there. The games drew around 800 athletes plus their families to the town, money MacMillan notes would have gone elsewhere without the centre. 

Power costs double what was expected

Even so, the wellness centre's board is concerned about the deficit, says MacMillan, who chairs the board. He acknowledges not everyone is happy with shortfall. 

"It's not met with 100 per cent acceptance, but I can tell you, it's met with acceptance from the majority of tax-paying citizens," MacMillan said.

Officials knew when the facility was built it would run at a loss, but no one expected it to be as large as it is, he said. Power costs are twice as high as expected and a consultant is currently looking into why, MacMillan said.

The facility, which opened in December 2012, cost $38.7 million to build. That was paid for by all three levels of government, and through business and community fundraising. 

The centre houses two rinks, a swimming pool, a gym, a walking track and conference facilities, plus the YMCA, which has a five-year contract to operate on the site.

New Glasgow pays largest slice of the deficit

Chad McDavid, general manager of the Pictou County Weeks Crushers Junior A hockey organization, said his group is thrilled to have the facility in the community.

"To be able to have everything under one roof — two sheets of ice, aquatic centre and a gym — has a huge impact on our athletes," McDavid said.

It's also "a very good recruiting tool for our junior program to showcase this facility to players who may be interested in coming to our community," he said

The communities of New Glasgow, Pictou, Stellarton, Trenton and Pictou County split covering the shortfall. For the last fiscal year, New Glasgow paid the largest amount at $339,995.

Similar facilities across the country run deficits, including one in Truro, MacMillan said.